Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-14

From the Boston Herald.
One Of the rarest of American books is the
tiny pamphlet entitled ''Tamerlane and Other
POEMS" by Bostonian, printed in 1927 by
Calvin +. s. Thomas, who had his Office at the
corner of Washington and State streets, Boston.
The author of this little poem was Edgar
Allan Poe, then in his nineteenth year, friend
less and penniless in strange city.
For some unknown reason this little PAM
phlet was almost Immediately suppressed after
It got into print and in October of 1927 both
the poet and the publisher had left Boston. OF
the publisher no further trace has ever beer
found
1he only original copy known to exist is the
one acquired by the British museum in October
1867, Just forty years after it was published
IN 1854 Mr.. George Roadway republished this
little book from the unique copy in the London
museum, addinga preface by Mr.. L. II. Shep-
nerd, which gave all that is known of its history
Poe afterward republshed this piece, reduc-
ing the 4O6 lines of the original copy to a total
OF 243 lines and canceling the eleven explana-
tory notes which were printed in 1927. This is
one OF the earliest and most remarkable of Poe's
pieces. 1t bore on the title page the following
lines from Cowper:
This indicates the passionate character of the
little poem in its unabridged condition. In the
preface is the following statement:
fogne heads are siddy. and young hearts are warm,
And make mistakes for manhood and reform.
The greater part of the poems which COM
pose this little volume were written in lS2l-22
when the author had not completed his four
teenth year. They were, of course. not intended
for publication. Why they are now published
concerns no one but himself. OF the smaller
pieces very little need be said. They perhaps
SAVIOR too much of egotism, but they were writ
ten by one too young to have any knowledge OF
the world but from his own breast, In Tanner
lane he has endeavored to expose the folly OF
even risking the best feelings Of the heart at the
shrine of ambition. He is conscious that in
this there many thoughts, besides that of
the general character of the poem. which he
fatters himself he could with little trouble have
corrected. but, unlike any of his predecessors
he has been too fond of his early productions
to amend them in his old age. He will not say
that he is indifferent az to the success of these
poems-it might stimulate him to other at
tempts-but he can safely assert that failure
will not at all influence him in a resolution al
ready adopted. This is challenging criticism
let 1t be SO. Nos haze novmus esse nihil"
A Boston book dealer has been hunting for
this work for ten years and has said that he
could not go out of business until he had found
II. 1t has been a standing question among all
his friends whether this book would ever
turn up
At last, however. a perfect copy Of the original
work has been found. 1t is now in the hands of
Mr.. Charles F. Libbie and will be sold at auction
during the present month in this city. 1t is
certainly the rarest of all the rare things that
are associated with the name of Edgar Allan
Poe, and the party who has money enough to
buy it will own a book of very exceptional
uniqueness on American literature
The finding of this booklet illustrates the
proverb that "all things come to him who
waits