­[page 162, continued:]

The “Dimmock” Daguerreotype

In volume 16 of James A. Harrison's edition of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe (New York: George D. Sproul, 1902), there is an oval photogravure reproduction (fig. 74) derived from the “Thompson” daguerreotype of 1849. The reproduction is accompanied by this caption: “From a daguerreotype of 1848-49, owned by Captain M. J. Dimmock, of Richmond, Va. Presented by a son of John Allan to Captain Dimmock's brother.” Whether this picture was in fact a daguerreotype, as Harrison stated, or simply a retouched copy photograph taken from the “Thompson” image (fig. 22), is unknown; the scratchy lines visible in the background of the Harrison reproduction suggest the latter. It is doubtful that any daguerreotype of Poe would have belonged to a son of John Allan, since Poe's relations with the Allan family were effectively severed in 1834. The mention of “Captain Dimmock's brother” suggests Harrison was making a confused reference to a daguerreotype once owned by the journalist Thomas Dimmock, now in the collection of the Players Club (fig. 75). A more accurate evaluation of the likeness might be formed if the original picture used in the Harrison edition should ever come to light.