Text: Laughton Osborn to Edgar Allan Poe — November 12, 1845


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Dr Sir,

The copy of translated sonnets from certain old and little known Ital. Poets which I did myself the honor to send you some time since, in accordance with my promise were intended by their publication in yr “Journal,” not to benefit myself, (quite the contrary) but to be of service to you in the irksome part of yr. Labors as an editor. As several weeks have elapsed without my rec[[ieving]]  any intimation of their being in type, I am forced to conclude that they are not so important as my vanity had led me to believe, & I must there be permitted to solicit their return,

Remaining, dr. Sir,

Yr. Very obed’t ser’t —
Laughton Osborn

Edgar A. Poe Esq

Wedny eveg [[evening]], 12th Nov. ‘45.


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Notes:

This letter is addressed, “Edgar A. Poe, Esq [[/]] 85, Amity — Street.”

Poe appears not to have used the sonnets. Several Italian poems did appear in the Broadway Journal about this time, although without translations.

This letter is listed in in Bangs Sale Catalogue, April 11, 1896, item 78. The text is given here from a transcript made by T. O. Mabbott when he owned the letter.


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[S:0 - MS, 18xx] - Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore - Misc - Letters - L. Osborn to Poe (RCL582)