Text: Robert A. Stewart (ed. J. A. Harrison), “Notes to The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar,” The Complete Works of Edgar Allan PoeVol. VI: Tales - part 05 (1902), 6:290-294


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[page 290, continued:]

THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF M. VALDEMAR.

AMERICAN WHIG REVIEW, DECEMBER, 1845; BROADWAY JOURNAL, II. 24.

The text follows the Broadway Journal (with Poe's MS. notes in his copy of the Broadway Journal). The American Whig Review shows one verbal variation and a few differences in punctuation from the later form. Griswold differs from the text in the spelling of several words and in a few cases of punctuation. [page 291:]

This tale was reprinted in England twice during Poe's lifetime, first, in the “Popular Record of Modern Science,” London, under the title “The Case of M. Valdemar,”and second, in booklet form, with the title “Mesmerism ‘In Articulo Mortis,’” London, 1846. The latter has been collated with the text, and the numerous variations are noted below.

Variations of American Whig Review from text.

Page 154 l. 6 , to (o. c.) page 156 l. 22 , from (o.c.) page 157 l. 31 Sunday). ( ).) page 160 l. 20 lips); (;)) page 161 l. 7 few (very few) page 163 l. 4 part; (:) page 164 l. 34 speedy (speedy,) page 166 l. 17 less, (—) l. 20 putridity (putrescence).

Variations of Griswold from text.

Page 154 l. 11 , and (;) page 155 l. 18 Harlaem (Harlem) page 156 l. 23-27 [In quo. marks in Gris.] page 157 l. 31 Sunday). (.)) page 158 l. 15 with (, with) l. 30 Valdemar (Valdemar,) page 159 l. 20 stertorous (stertorious) l. 21 stertorousness (stertoriousness) l. 24 I (, I) page 160 l. 8 B. J. has unusally for unusually l. 13 day- (o. h.) l. 20 lips); (;)) l. 27 I (, I) page 161 l. 5 the (a) page 163 l. 17 syllabification (syllibification) page 166 l. 20 putridity (putrescence).

The last putridity is Poe's MS. correction in his copy of the Broadway Journal.

An article of ours, thus entitled [The Facts in the case of M. Valdemar], was published in the last number of Mr. Colton's American Review, and has given rise to some discussion — especially in regard to the truth or falsity of the statements made. It does not become us, of course, to offer one word on the point at issue. We have been requested to reprint the article, and do so with pleasure. We leave it to speak for itself. We may observe, however, that there are a certain class of people who pride themselves upon Doubt, as a profession. — ED. B. J. [page 292:]

THE ENGLISH PAMPHLET.

Mesmerism | “In Articulo Mortis”| an | Astounding and Horrifying Narration | Shewing the extraordinary power of Mesmerism | in arresting the | Progress of Death | By Edgar A. Poe, Esq. | of New York | London | Short & Co., 8, King Street, Bloomsbury. | 1846. | Three pence | .

ADVERTISEMENT.

The following astonishing narrative first appeared in the American Magazine a work of some standing in the United States, where the case has excited the most intense interest.

The effects of the mesmeric influence, in this case, were so astounding, so contrary to all past experience, that no one could have possibly anticipated the final result. The narrative though only a plain recital of facts, is of so extraordinary a nature as almost to surpass belief. It is only necessary to add, that credence is given to it in America, where the occurrence took place.

Variations from text.

Page 154 l. 1 I (, I) l. 2 , that (o. c.) l. 2-3 M. Valdemar (small caps.) l. 4 not — (,) l. 7 farther (further) l. 8 endeavors (endeavours) l. 8 this — (,) l. 13 facts — (facts,) l. 14 , succinctly, (o. c.) l. 15 these : (: —) l. 17 Mesmerism (s. 1.) l. 17 and, (o.c.) l. 18 ago, (o. c.) l. 21 : — no (;) l. 21 mesmerised (mesmerised) page 155 l. 1 seen, (; —) l. 2 , in (o. c.) l. 3 ; (; —) l. 5 ; (; —) l. 6 Death (s. 1.) l. 9 — the (;) l. 14-16-17 “ ...” (o.) l. 14 Biblioteca Forensica (i.) l. 15 Issachar Marx (“Isachar Marx”) l. 20 — his (,) l. 21 , also, (o. c.) l. 23 — the (,) l. 30 , or thoroughly, (o. c.) l. 30 , and (;) l. 31 clairvoyance (n. i.) l. 33 these (those) page 156 l. 9 him (n. i.) l. 9 and (o.) l. 11 , and (,) l. 11 , to (o. c.) l. 13 ; for, (— for) l. 19 period (time) l. 20 physicians (physician) l. 23 note: (: —) l. 24 P — (Poe) l. 25 now (n.i.) l. 29 an (-an-) page 157 l. 1 ; (—) l. 6 power (power,) l. 8 palliative (purgative) l. 8 without (, without) l. 9 penciling (pencilling) l. 11 Doctors (Drs.) l. 16 , of course, (o. c.) l. 19 , running (o. c.) l. 20 ; and (,) l. 21 , at (o. c.) l. 28 on ... point (, on ... point,) [page 293:] l. 32 hold (hold a) page 158 l. 13 until (, until) l. 15 acquaintance, (o. c.) l. 16, )(),) l. 16 farther (further) l. 19 and (and,) l. 28-29 , as ... could, (o. c.) l. 29 L — (L — l) l. 29 Valdemar, (o. c.) l. 31 mesmerizing (mesmerising) l. 32 Yes (s. 1.) l. 33 mesmerized (mesmerised) page 159 l. 4 but (but,) l. 7 Doctors (Drs.) l. 9 , and (;) l. 11 hesitation — (,) l. 14 and (, and) l. 19 although (, although) l. 19 sigh (, sigh) l. 19 a (o.) l. 27 inward (n. i.) page 160 l. 2 ; the (,) l. 5 , it (o. c.) l. 7 a (a very) l. 9 The (— The) l. 18 position; (,) l. 19-20 ( ... ;)(, ... :) l. 22 Stilly (o. c.) l. 24 I (, I) l. 25 half (o.) l. 29 ; but (—) l. 29 to (, to) l. 33 He . . . (new par.) page 161 l. 7 words: (word: —) l. 8 Yes; — (;) l. 12 again: (.) l. 18 farther (further) l. 22 and (, and) l. 27 ; and (,) l. 29 said (said,) l. 30 inaudibly: (: —) l. 31 (not new par.) l. 31 Yes; (,) l. 32 , or (—) l. 32 wish, (—) page 162 l. 1 , until (o. c.) l. 1 super (inter) l. 10 which (, which) l. 10 , hitherto, (o. c.) l. 11 went out (n. i.) l. 17 ; while (—) l. 22 beyond conception (, beyond all conception,) l. 26 at (, at) l. 27 simply (o.) page 163 l. 1 jaws (jaw) l. 1 voice — (,) l. 4 ; I (.) l. 6 ; but ( —) l. 13 ears — (,) l. 13 least (least,) l. 15 me (me —) l. 17 as (— as) l. 25 said: (,) l. 26 Yes; — (—) l. 26 no; — (:) l. 27 dead, (!) l. 28 , or (o. c.) page 164 l. 1 hour, (o. c.) l. 2 , silently (o. c.) l. 3 endeavors (endeavours) l. 10 endeavored (endeavoured) l. 12 (new par.) l. 12 , indeed, (o. c.) l. 14 M, (myself to M.) l. 15 to reply, (at reply) l. 16 longer (longer the power of) l. 18 — although (,) l. 18 endeavored (endeavoured) l. 22 ; and (,) l. 34 speedy (speedy,) page 165 l. 1 until (, until) l. 6 attentions (attention) l. 15 . These (: these) l. 17 especially (specially) l. 19 out-flowing (o. h.) l. 20 highly (highly-) l. 23 and (, and) l. 23 F — (F.) l. 24 follows: (: —) l. 28 rather (, rather,) l. 30 before;), ( ),) l. 31 which (, which) l. 31 forth: (: —) l. 32 — put (. Put) l. 32 or, (o. c.) l. 33 awaken (wake) l. 33-34 — I say ... dead! (I say ... dead!) page 166 l. 3 endeavor (endeavour) l. 3 recompose [page 294:] (o. h.) l. 3 but, (o. c.) l. 3 this (this,) l. 5 and (, and) l. 6-7 at least (, at least,) l. 8 — and (,) l. 17 , less (—) l. 18 rotted (n. i.) l. 18 away (away —) l. 19 that (the) l. 20 — of (,) l. 20 detestable (detestable,).


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Notes:

None.


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[S:0 - JAH06, 1902] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Editions - The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe (J. A. Harrison) (Notes to The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar)