The Bells

A SCARCE 1881 US EDITION THAT IS NOW 142 YEARS OLD
WITH 22 ENGRAVINGS BY LAUDERBACH, CHARLES KING, DARLEY, RIODAN, AND MANY MORE
INCLUDING ONE OF POE'S MOST MONUMENTAL POEMS, "THE BELLS"

This is a beautiful Victorian printing of Poe's poem "The Bells." Without any question one of the nicest illustrated editions ever printed during the 19th century. The Bells, a poem by Edgar Allan Poe, was published posthumously in the magazine Sartain's Union (November 1849). Written at the end of Poe's life, this incantatory poem examines bell sounds as symbols of four milestones of human experience—childhood, youth, maturity, and death. "The Bells" is a heavily onomatopoeic poem by Edgar Allan Poe that was not published until after his death in 1849. It is perhaps best known for the diacopic use of the word "bells." The poem has four parts to it; each part becomes darker and darker as the poem progresses, from "the jingling and the tinkling" of the bells in part 1 to the "moaning and the groaning" of the bells in part 4.

The overall condition of this book is good, but it does show age and use. The covers have small scratches, marks, rubbing, blemishes, and shelf wear. The cover edges show rubbing and chipping, which is rather normal for a century-plus edition. The interior pages are in remarkable condition for their age but do have some natural age toning. This is a very old book, so it's not perfect; however, for 1881, it's been well-kept. The printed date inside the book is a bit hard to read as the "1" in the year was lightly stamped and very hard to read. I have cross-referenced the print year, and I have provided a document in photo #10 showing its copywrite record. I have also seen others with the same printed date of 1881.