The Conchologist's First Book

Information about The Conchologist's First Book

The Conchologist's First Book

Facsimile of the first edition.
AuthorEdgar Allan Poe
Original titleThe Conchologist's First Book; Or, A System of Testaceous Malacology
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genre(s)Scientific textbook
PublisherHaswell, Barrington, and Haswell
Publication date1839
Media typePrint
The Conchologist's First Book (sometimes subtitled with Or, A System of Testaceous Malacology) is an illustrated textbook issued in 1839, 1840, and 1845. Though the book was printed under Edgar Allan Poe's name, the actual author was Thomas Wyatt, an English author and lecturer.[1]

Background

Poe originally wrote just the preface and introduction but, for $50, Poe lent his name as author of the entire book, published in Philadelphia by Haswell, Barrington, and Haswell.[2] It is believed that the odd arrangement was to avoid copyright problems with the original edition of Wyatt's book, Manual of Conchology, previously published by Harper & Brothers. Wyatt's book contained multiple illustrations of shells and carried the cover price of $8, a price too high for both beginners and advanced students of conchology. Wyatt intended a cheaper, concise edition to be used in schools with a price of $1.50. Harper's, however, did not want to produce a second edition that would compete with sales of the first.[3] Wyatt had said, "Poe needed money very sorely at the time," and so Poe allowed the use of his name to popularize the book.[4]

The new edition, slightly revised and less expensive, sold out within two months and was used in schools as had been hoped, though Poe received no royalties for its sales.[5] The edition, nonetheless, caused some criticism in later years not only of copyright problems but of plagiarism.[6] In 1844, Poe tried to publish more of his work with Harper's (which had also printed his novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket) but was informed by a friend, "They have complaints against you... grounded on certain movements of yours."[7]

Wyatt's book, in turn, took much material from British naturalist Thomas Brown without attribution. Brown's book, The Conchologist's Textbook, had been published in Glasgow, Scotland in 1837.[8]

References

1. ^ Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York City: Checkmark Books, 2001. p. 200 ISBN 081604161X
2. ^ Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York City: Checkmark Books, 2001. p. 200 ISBN 081604161X
3. ^ Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy. New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. p. 106 ISBN 0815410387
4. ^ Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance. New York City: Harper Perennial, 1991. p. 138 ISBN 0060923318
5. ^ Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy. New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. p. 106 ISBN 0815410387
6. ^ Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance. New York City: Harper Perennial, 1991. p. 334-5 ISBN 0060923318
7. ^ Meyers, Jeffrey. Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy. New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. p. 107 ISBN 0815410387
8. ^ Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New York City: Checkmark Books, 2001. p. 200-1 ISBN 081604161X

External link

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Poems
Poetry (1824) • O, Tempora! O, Mores! (1825) • Song (1827) • Imitation (1827) • Spirits of the Dead (1827) • A Dream (1827) • Stanzas" (1827) (1827) • Tamerlane (1827) • The Lake (1827) • Evening Star (1827) • A Dream (1827) • To Margaret (1827) • The Happiest Day (1827) • To The River —— (1828) • Romance (1829) • Fairy-Land (1829) • To Science (1829) • To Isaac Lea (1829) • Al Aaraaf (1829) • An Acrostic (1829) • Elizabeth (1829) • To Helen (1831) • A Paean (1831) • The Sleeper (1831) • The City in the Sea (1831) • The Valley of Unrest (1831) • Israfel (1831) • The Coliseum (1833) • Enigma (1833) • Fanny (1833) • Serenade (1833) • Song of Triumph from Epimanes (1833) • Latin Hymn (1833) • To One in Paradise (1833) • Hymn (1835) • Politician (1835) • May Queen Ode (1836) • Spiritual Song (1836) • Bridal Ballad (1837) • To Zante (1837) • The Haunted Palace (1839) • Silence, a Sonnet (1839) • Lines on Joe Locke (1843) • The Conqueror Worm (1843) • Lenore (1843) • Eulalie (1843) • A Campaign Song (1844) • Dream-Land (1844) • Impromptu. To Kate Carol (1845) • To Frances (1845) • The Divine Right of Kings (1845) • Epigram for Wall Street (1845) • The Raven (1845) • A Valentine (1846) • Beloved Physician (1847) • An Enigma (1847) • Deep in Earth (1847) • Ulalume (1847) • Lines on Ale (1848) • To Marie Louise (1848) • Evangeline (1848) • A Dream Within A Dream (1849) • Eldorado (1849) • For Annie (1849) • The Bells (1849) • Annabel Lee (1849) • Alone (1875)
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Other works
Essays: Maelzel's Chess Player (1836) • The Daguerreotype (1840) • The Philosophy of Furniture (1840) • A Few Words on Secret Writing (1841) • The Rationale of Verse (1843) • Morning on the Wissahiccon (1844) • Old English Poetry (1845) • The Philosophy of Composition (1846) • The Poetic Principle (1846) • Eureka (1848) Hoaxes: • The Balloon-Hoax (1844) Novels: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket (1837) • The Journal of Julius Rodman (1840) Plays: Scenes From 'Politian' (1835) Other: The Conchologist's First Book (1839) • The Light-House (1849)
Edgar Allan Poe

This daguerreotype of Poe was taken in 1848 when he was 39, a year before his death.
Born: January 19 1809(1809--)
Boston, Massachusetts U.S.
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Edgar Allan Poe

This daguerreotype of Poe was taken in 1848 when he was 39, a year before his death.
Born: January 19 1809(1809--)
Boston, Massachusetts U.S.
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Not to be confused with copywriting.

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Conchology is the scientific study of shells of mollusks, a branch of malacology. Conchologists may study animal shells to gain an understanding of the diverse and complex taxonomy of mollusks, or simply appreciate them for their aesthetic value.
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Harper & Brothers was a prominent New York City book and magazine publishing firm which founded Harper's Magazine.

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The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket
Author Edgar Allan Poe
Country United States
Language English
Genre(s) Gothic, Novel
Publisher Harper & Brothers
Publication date July 1838
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Captain Thomas Brown (1785 – October 8, 1862) was a British naturalist and malacologist.

Born in Perth, Scotland, he was educated at the Edinburgh High School. At the age of twenty, he joined the Forfar and Kineardine Militia, raising to the rank of captain in 1811.
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Essays: Maelzel's Chess Player (1836) • The Daguerreotype (1840) • The Philosophy of Furniture (1840) • A Few Words on Secret Writing (1841) • The Rationale of Verse (1843) •
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"Tamerlane" is an epic poem by Edgar Allan Poe, first published in the 1827 collection Tamerlane and Other Poems. That collection, with only 50 copies printed, was not credited with the author's real name but by "A Bostonian.
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"To Science," or "Sonnet - To Science" is an 1829 poem written by Edgar Allan Poe. The traditional 14-line English sonnet says that science is the enemy of the poet because it takes away the mysteries of the world.
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"Al Aaraaf" is a poem by American poet Edgar Allan Poe, first published in 1829. The poem was one of Poe's first renowned works, and is famous for its historical references. It is based on stories from the Qur'an, and tells of the afterlife in a place called Al Aaraaf.
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"To Helen" is the first of two poems to carry that name written by Edgar Allan Poe. The 15-line poem was written in honor of Jane Stanard, the mother of a childhood friend. It was first published in 1831 collection Poems of Edgar A.
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"Lenore" is a poem by the American author, Edgar Allan Poe. Though it began as a different poem, "A Paean," it was not published as "Lenore" until 1843.

Interpretation


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"The City in the Sea" is a poem by Edgar Allan Poe that was published in 1845, but dates back to an earlier 1831 version originally titled "The Doomed City."

Analysis

The city is one in the west ruled by death who is revered above all.
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