Check List of the Correspondence of Edgar Allan Poe — Part VI: Spurious, Fake, Misdated and Doubtful Letters

1823 - May 4 - Misdated

SP-001

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to Messrs. Buckingham (Boston, MA). Misdated as 1823 by André Fontainas in EAP: Lettres à John Allan, son père adoptif, Paris: G. Crès, 1930, pp. 10-11 (probably a typographical error). See CL-72. (SP08-1.)

1827 - about March - Spurious

SP-001a

Poe (Richmond, VA) to Mills Nursery (Philadelphia, PA). Whitty [1911], p. xxviii; Phillips, 1:285. Whitty claims: "He [Poe] first wrote a letter to The Mills Nursery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with whom the Allan firm had dealings, asking for employment. That firm sent the letter to Allan, and the matter ended in a war of warm words." Unfortunately, neither Whitty or Phillips offers a source for this story, and there appears to be no such letter among the Ellis & Allan papers at the Library of Congress. In CL48, Ostrom says "probably no letter." (SPR41-10; SPR48-[15a]; SP08-1a.)

1827 after March - Spurious

SP-001b

Poe (Boston, MA) to — ? (— ?). A recollection by Poe's boyhood friend T. H. Ellis states, "the occasional letters which he [Poe] wrote home are dated ‘St. Petersburg,’ but were written while he was on the stage in Boston, or an enlisted soldier in the army" (RF-32). Ellis' open acknowledgment, in the same document, that "the story of his [Poe's] going to St. Petersburg, etc., was all an invention" bolsters his credibility, but the claim that Poe was "on the stage in Boston," while intriguing, cannot be verified and justifies caution in accepting the statement in full. (SP08-1b.)

1827 - about 1827 - Forgery

SP-002  

Poe (Boston, MA) to C. F. S. Thomas (Boston, MA). Hamilton, Great Forgers & Famous Fakes, 1980, p. 115 (F). This letter is undated, but supposedly 1827. It purports to be notes about the printing of Tamerlane and Other Poems, but Hamilton reveals the forger as Joseph Cosey. (SPR08-2 // SP08-2.)

1829 - before May 1 (?) - Spurious

SP-003  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to Wm. Wirt (Baltimore, MD). This letter may be presumed, based on Wm. Wirt to Poe, 11 May 1829 (SPR-22), but no letter from Poe is clearly suggested as Poe seems to have visited him in person to show the MSS of his poems. (SPR41-[A1]; SP08-3.)

1830 - January 3 - Misdated

SP-004  

Poe (West Point, NY) to J. Allan (Richmond, VA). Misdated by Poe. See CL-61. (SP08-4.)

1831 - March (?) - Literary

SP-005  

Poe to B——. This entry is ‘Letter to B——’ from Poems (1831), cited in CL41, but omitted afterwards. As the introductory essay to Poe's volume of poetry, it should be considered a literary item rather than a genuine letter. (SPR41-52; SP08-5.)

1832 - Jan 12 (?) - Doubtful

SP-006  

J. Allan (Richmond, VA) to Poe (Baltimore, MD). In CL41, Ostrom apparently thought a letter was implied by J. Allan's note on the letter of 15 December 1831 (RCL-69). On this occasion, Allan seems to have written John Walsh only, and not Poe. (SPR41-58; SP08-6.)

1832 - [March] 15 - Misdated

SP-007  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to J. P. Kennedy (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in H [Works], 17:2. See CL-78. (SP08-7.)

1834 - September 11 - Misdated

SP-007a

Poe (Richmond, VA) to J. P. Kennedy (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in Heartman & Rede, 3:16. See SPR-101. (SP08-7a.)

1834 - November - Misdated

SP-008  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to J. P. Kennedy (Baltimore, MD). This is a follow up note to item CL-73, misdated in CL41. See CL-74. (SPR41-62; SP08-8.)

1835 - January 21 - Misdated

SP-009  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to E. L. Carey & A. Hart (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated by Poe, repeated in Bangs sale, 16 February 1898. See CL-113. (SPR41-64; SP08-9.)

1835 - May 15-18 - Misdated

SP-010  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to E. L. Carey (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-81. (SPR41-70; SP08-10.)

1835 - June 2 - Misdated

SP-011  

Poe (Baltimore, MD) to T. W. White (Richmond, VA). Misdated in Allen 1:367. See CL-88. (SPR48-[84b]; SP08-11.)

1835 - October 6 - Misdated

SP-012  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to R. M. Bird (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in Am. Art Assoc. sale (Hall), 20-21 April 1921, reported in ABC (1921), p. 997. See CL-106. (SPR41-93; SPR48-[105a]; SP08-12.)

1836 - January 21 - Misdated

SP-013  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to E. L. Carey & A. Hart (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated by Poe. See CL-108. (SP08-13.)

1836 - February 15 - Misdated

SP-014  

G. Poe (Mobile, AL) to Poe (Richmond, VA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-121. (SPR41-106; SP08-14.)

1836 - after June 7 (?) - Misidentified

SP-015  

W. Irving (Newburg, NY) to Poe (Richmond, VA). The Poe Log, p. 210, attributes to Irving two sentences quoted in SLM (July 1836) 2:517. Part of this quotation was reprinted in the Philadelphia Saturday Museum (4 March 1843), where it is attributed to J. K. Paulding. Because Poe was directly involved with the writing of the article in the Museum, this identification of the correspondent has great credibility. In SLM, another excerpt is credited to Paulding, leaving the false impression that Poe is being praised by two different people. See CL-148a. (SP08-15.)

1836 - July - Misdated

SP-016  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to J. P. Kennedy (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in Allen 1:399. See CL-147. (SPR48-[156a]; SP08-16.)

1836 - September 30 - Misdated

SP-017  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to Rev. G. Gilman (Charleston, SC). Misdated in ABC (1899), p. 525, item 8707. See CL-160a. (SP08-17.)

1836 - October 2-4 (?) - Misdated

SP-018  

Wm. Poe (Augusta, GA) to Poe (Richmond, VA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-105. (SPR41-139; SP08-18.)

1836 - before October 6 - Misdated

SP-019  

Wm. Poe (Augusta, GA) to Poe (Richmond, VA). The letter by which this is implied is misdated in H [Works], 17:379. See CL-105. (SPR41-139; SP08-19.)

1836 - November 29 - Misdated

SP-020  

E. L Carey & I. Lea (Philadelphia, PA) to Poe (Richmond, VA). Misdated in W [1909], 2:375. See CL-108. (SPR41-144; SP08-20.)

1837 - February 23 - Misdated

SP-021  

Poe (NY, NY) to — ? [Carpenter, etc.] (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in ABC (1910), p. 860. See CL-173. (SPR41-150; SP08-21.)

1837 - October 20 - Misdated

SP-022  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to Mrs. S. J. Hale (Boston, MA). Misdated by Poe. See CL-164. (SP08-22.)

1838 - June 26 (?) - Forgery

SP-023  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to N. C. Brooks (Baltimore, MD). Forgery attributed to Joseph Cosey. Offered for sale on eBay, 12 December 1999, and several times subsequently, along with a forgery of 7 February 1847 to N. C. Bennett (SP-102). An envelope page of the same date, addressed to Brooks at the Baltimore Museum, is shown in Hamilton, Great Forgers & Famous Fakes, 1980, p. 263 (F). This envelope was CL48-187, but appears no longer to be at NN. (SPR08-2 // SP08-23.)

1838 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-024  

Poe (New York, NY) to N. C. Brooks (Baltimore, MD). Another forgery by Joseph Cosey, with text closely matching that of SP-23. Offered for sale on eBay in March 2004. (SPR08-3 // SP08-24.)

1839 - June 1 - Misdated

SP-025  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to W. E. Burton (Philadelphia, PA). Incorrectly implied as 1839 in H [Works], 17:163-167. See CL-235. (SP08-25.)

July 19 - Misdated

SP-026  

E. B. Fisher (Pittsburgh, PA) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in ABC, and Heartman & Rede, 3:25. See CL-190. (SP08-26.)

September 13 - Misdated

SP-027  

P. P. Cooke (Charlestown, VA) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in ABC, and Heartman & Rede, 3:25. See CL-200. (SP08-27.)

September 16 - Misidentified

SP-028  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to P. P. Cooke (Charlestown, VA). Quinn, p. 271 n, seems to have confused Cooke's letter to Poe (SPR-200) with Poe's letter to Cooke (SPR-203). This conjecture is further supported by the fact that Quinn states that the MS is in the Griswold collection at MB, which would apply to Cooke's letter but not to Poe's, for which the MS is at Harvard. (SP08-28.)

1840 - May 10 - Misdated

SP-028a

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Thompson (Richmond, VA). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:35. See CL-789. (SP08-28a.)

1840 - July or August - Misdated

SP-029  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in CL41. See CL-655. (SPR41-196; SP08-29.)

1840 - August 24 - Misdated

SP-030  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in CL41, and Heartman & Rede, 3:26. See CL-656. (SPR41-196; SP08-30.)

1841 - January 21 - Misdated

SP-031  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to J. E. Snodgrass (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in W [1909] and Phillips, 1:597. See CL-229. (SP08-31.)

1841 - Spring 1841 - Spurious

SP-032  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Boston, MA). Griswold states, in G [Memoir], 3:v (1850) and 1:xxi (1853), that he first made Poe's acquaintance at this time, describing the initial missed opportunity: "He called at my hotel, and not finding me at home, left two letters of introduction." Even if this story is true, these letters were probably written by third parties known to both Poe and Griswold. It is, of course, also possible that along with these letters Poe left a note of his own, but Griswold does not make any statement to directly support the speculation. The earliest known letter from Poe to Griswold, which can be assigned with any certainty, is about May 8, 1841 (RCL-282). (SP08-32.)

1841 - March 19 - Misdated

SP-032a

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Boston, MA). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:23. See CL-289. (SP08-32a.)

1841 - March 29 - Misdated

SP-033  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Boston, MA). Misdated in G [Memoir], 3:v (1850) and 1:xxi (1853); repeated in Phillips, 1:590, following Griswold's dating. See CL-289. (SP08-33.)

1841 - April 11 - Misdated

SP-034  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC). Misdated in ABC, and Heartman & Rede, 3:26. See CL-283. (SP08-34.)

1841 - June 4 - Misdated

SP-035  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to J. Neal (NY, NY, forwarded to Portland, ME). Misdated by Phillips, 1:668. See CL-237. (SP08-35.)

1841 - June 17 - Misdated

SP-036  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to — ? [J. E. Snodgrass] (Baltimore, MD). Misdated in W [1909], 2:409. See CL-240. (SP08-36.)

1841 - August 3 - Misdated

SP-037  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated by F. W. Thomas, and repeated in Phillips, 1:675, Allen, 2:885, and Heartman & Rede, 3:26. See CL-326. (SP08-37.)

1841 - August 11 - Misdated

SP-037a

Lea & Blanchard (Philadelphia, PA) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in H [Works] 17:101-102, and Heartman & Rede, 3:26. See CL-321. (SP08-37a.)

1841 - August 26 - Misdated

SP-038  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC). Misdated in Allen 2:476n. See CL-298. (SP08-38.)

1841 - September 21 - Misdated

SP-039  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to L. J. Cist (Cincinnati, OH). Misdated by Quinn, p. 342n. See CL-329. (SP08-39.)

1841 - December 31 - Misdated

SP-039a

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to J. P. Kennedy (Baltimore, MD). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:16. See CL-264. (SP08-39a.)

1842 - February 6 - Misdated

SP-040  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in H [Works], 17:105-106, W [1909], 1:318-321 and Phillips, 1:689-690. See CL-356. (SP08-40.)

1842 - March 13 - Misdated

SP-041  

J. Tomlin (Jackson, TN) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated by Tomlin. See CL-274. (SP08-41.)

1842 - March 29 - Misdated

SP-042  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Boston, MA). Misdated in G [Memoir], 3:v (1850) and 1:xxi (1853). See CL-289. (SP08-42.)

1842 - March 30 - Misdated

SP-043  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. Tyler (Washington, DC). Misdated in Allen, 2:541 (and incorrectly noted as being at WU). See CL-429. (SPR41-299; SP08-43.)

1842 - March 31 - Misdated

SP-044  

R. Tyler (Washington, DC) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in W [1909], 1:321, and Heartman & Rede, 3:27. See CL-430. (SPR41-300; SPR48-[362b]; SP08-44.)

1842 - April 16 - Misdated

SP-045  

Poe (NY, NY) to P. P. Cooke (Millwood, VA). Misdated by Poe. See CL-621. (SPR48-[362c]; SP08-45.)

1842 - June 6 - Misdated

SP-046  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to T. H. Chivers (Middletown, CT). Misdated in Century Magazine (January 1902) ns 43:439 and H [Works], 17:113-115. See CL-378. (SP08-460.)

1842 - June 10 - Misdated

SP-047  

R. Bolton (Pontotoc, MS) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in the Commercial Appeal, (Memphis, TN), 15 November 1925, sec. 4, p. 7. See CL-354. (SP08-47.)

1842 - June 15 (?) - Misdated

SP-048  

D. Bryan (Alexandria, VA) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). In Bryan to Poe, 27 June 1842 (SPR 373), Bryan refers to having sent Poe a poem "some weeks ago." In Poe to D. Bryan, 6 July 1842, Poe erroneously refers to the period as "three weeks" (see D. Thomas, pp. 401-402; see also CL-377). (SPR48-372; SP08-48.)

1842 - July 6 - Misidentified

SP-049  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC). Misidentified in Allen 2:542. (Correspondent is actually D. Bryan.) See CL-377. (SP08-49.)

1842 - August 3 - Misdated

SP-050  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated by F. W. Thomas. See CL-326. (SP08-50.)

1842 - August 15 - Misdated

SP-051  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to W. Poe (Macon, GA). Misdated by W [1909], 1:335; and Phillips, 1:756. See CL-246. (SP08-51.)

1842 - September 21 - Misdated

SP-052  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to L. J. Cist (Cincinnati, OH). Misdated by Quinn, p. 342n. See CL-329. (SP08-52.)

1842 - October 5 - Misidentified

SP-053  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to C. W. Holden (NY, NY). Misidentified in CL41 as Charles W. Holden. See CL-396. (SPR41-330 and CL41-[A30]; SP08-53.)

1842 - November 16 - Misdated

SP-054  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to Mrs. L. H. Sigourney (Hartford, CT). Misdated by Poe. See CL-345. (SP08-54.)

1843 - December 1842 - March 1843 (?) - Forgery

SP-055

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:v (1850) and 1:xxi (1853); H [Works], 17:129; W [1909], 1:354-355; Phillips, 1:781. G [Memoir] gives it as "without date." H [Works] assigned a tentative date of 1843. No MS exists and Griswold's text is considered a forgery. (SPR08-4 // SPR41-340; SPR48-[408b]; SP08-55.)

1843 - February 8 - Spurious

SP-056  

F. W. Thomas (Washington, DC) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). See Ostrom's note to LTR48-153, where he mistakenly thinks that Thomas sent Poe a letter of introduction to President John Tyler. The date of February 8 is an error for March 8, but in any case, Thomas probably gave Poe the letter in person. Thomas prepared the letter because he was too ill to take Poe to see Tyler, but still wanted the meeting to take place. (SPR48-413; SP08-56.)

1843 - June 11 - Forgery

SP-057  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:v (1850) and 1:xxi (1853); W [1909], 2:34-35; H [Works], 17:145; L 2:491; Phillips, 1:837. No MS exists and Griswold's text is considered a forgery. Ostrom describes it as "highly doubtful," L [1948], 2:490, but gives the text in his notes, for reference. (SPR08-5 // SPR41-363; SPR48-438; SP08-57.)

1843 - June 20 - Misidentified

SP-058  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to J. T. Fields (Boston, MA). Misidentified in H [Works], 17:149. Poe's correspondent is J. R. Lowell. See CL-443. (SP08-58.)

1843 - December 15 - Misdated

SP-059  

Wm. Poe (Baltimore, MD) to Poe (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-439, and the note to LTR-97. (SPR41-381 // SP08-59.)

1843 - December 23 - Misdated

SP-059a

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to J. R. Lowell (Boston, MA). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:19. See CL-405. (SP08-59a.)

1844 - March 10 - Misdated

SP-060  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Lowell (Boston, MA). Misdated in Phillips, 2:863. See CL-476. (SP08-60.)

1844 - March 20 - Misdated

SP-061  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. E. Hewitt (NY, NY). Misdated in ABC (1972). See CL-530. (SP08-61.)

1844 - April 19 - Misdated

SP-062  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in H [Works], 17:169-170. See CL-534. (SP08-62.)

1844 - May 14 - Literary

SP-063  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). This is an article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 18 May 1844. Called "Doings of Gotham," the series consisted of 7 letters of the same light tone (see also SP-65, SP-66, SP-67, SP-69, SP-71, and SP-72). (SP08-63.)

1844 - May 15 - Misdated

SP-064  

T. H. Chivers (Oaky Grove, Washington, GA) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated by T. H. Chivers. See CL-488. (SP08-64.)

1844 - May 21 - Literary

SP-065  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 25 May 1844. (SP08-65.)

1844 - May 27 - Literary

SP-066  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 1 June 1844. (SP08-66.)

1844 - June 4 - Literary

SP-067  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 8 June 1844. (SP08-67.)

1844 - June 9 (?) - Misdated

SP-068  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. Keese (NY, NY). Misdated in CL41, following Am. Art sale (Wakeman), 29 April 1924, item 944. See CL-544. (SPR41-405; SP08-68.)

1844 - June 12 - Literary

SP-069  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 15 June 1844. (SP08-69.)

1844 - June 14 - Misdated

SP-070  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. Bowen (Columbia, PA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-487. (SPR41-406; SP08-70.)

1844 - June 18 - Literary

SP-071  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 29 June 1844. (SP08-71.)

1844 - June 28 - Literary

SP-072  

Poe (NY, NY) to Columbia Spy (Columbia, PA). An article in the form of a letter. Published in the Columbia Spy, 6 July 1844. (This article is the final installment in the 7 part series (see SP-64). (SP08-72.)

1844 - June - Misdated

SP-073  

Poe (NY, NY) to C. Anthon (NY, NY). Misdated in Anderson sale (Joline), 15 December 1914, item 831, and repeated in ABC (1915), p. 854. Also misdated in Anderson sale (Robinson), 29 April 1918, item 773, and repeated in ABC (1918). See CL-505. (SP08-73.)

1844 - October 21 - Misdated

SP-073a

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Lowell (Cambridge, MA). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:20. See CL-504. (SP08-73a.)

1844 - November 12 - Misdated

SP-074  

N. P. Willis (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in H [Works], 17:194; Phillips, 2:874 and 920. See CL-689b. (SP08-74.)

1844 (?) - Misdated

SP-075  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). H [Works], 169-170. See CL-534. (SP08-75.)

1845 - January 10 - Forgery

SP-076  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:vi (1850) and 1:xxii (1853); H [Works], 17:196; Phillips, 2:932. No MS exists. Ostrom describes it as "certainly a forgery," L [1948], 2:490. (SPR08-6 // SPR41-438; SP08-76.)

1845 - January 11 - Spurious

SP-077  

R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA) to Poe (NY, NY). G [Memoir], 3:vi; H [Works], 17:197; Phillips, 2:932-933 (excerpts). Ostrom discards as a forgery the letter of Poe to Griswold, 10 January 1845. The text of Griswold's letter, purportedly a reply, is printed in G [Memoir], 3:vi (1850) and 1:xxii (1853). It actually appears to be an altered version of Griswold's 14 January 1845 letter to Poe (SPR-516). (SPR41-439; SP08-77.)

1845 - February 24 - Forgery

SP-078  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:vi; H [Works], 17:201-202; Phillips, 2:949 (but recognizes the forgery). A significantly altered version of Poe to Griswold, 24 February 1845. (See CL-524.) (SPR08-7 // SP08-78.)

1845 - March 17 - Misdated

SP-079  

Poe (NY, NY) to N. Hawthorne (Salem, MA). Misdated in CL41. See CL-639. (SPR41-518; SP08-79).

[April 19] - Forgery

SP-080  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:vi (1850) and 1:xxii (1853) (as "without date"); H [Works], 17:169-170 (as "Without date, 1844 ?"). A significantly altered version of Poe's authentic letter, 19 April 1845 (SPR-534). (SPR08-8 // SPR41-432; SPR48-[533b]; SP08-80.)

1845 - August 9 - Forged copy

SP-080a

Poe (NY, NY) to T. W. Field (NY, NY). A forged copy of CL-554. Forgery at TxU-Hu. (SP08-80a.)

1845 - [September 11, 1845 (?)] Thursday afternoon - Doubtful

SP-081  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. A. Duyckinck (NY, NY). Although CL81 notes this MS at CSmH, that institution states flatly that it does not own any MS letters from Poe to E. A. Duyckinck. This entry, therefore, is probably an error, confused with CL-567, noted as Thursday morning of the same date. (SPR81-567a; SP08-81.)

1845 - September 9 - Misdated

SP-081a

T. H. Chivers (Oaky Grove, GA) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Heartman & Rede, 3:24. See CL-564. (SP08-81a.)

1845 - October 6 - Misdated

SP-082  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to R. M. Bird (Philadelphia, PA). Misdated in Am. Art Assoc. sale (Hall), 20-21 April 1921, item 493. See CL-106. (SP08-82.)

1845 - October 24 - Promissory

SP-083  

Poe (NY, NY) to H. Greeley (NY, NY). Bruno's Weekly, 4 March 1916, 2:526-528; Phillips, 2:1063-1064. This is actually a promissory note, written by Greeley, and merely signed by Poe. It is not, technically, a letter, and certainly not a letter by Poe. (SP08-83.)

1845 - November 1 - Forgery

SP-084  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). G [Memoir], 3:vi (1850) and 1:xxii (1853); H [Works], 17:220-221; Phillips, 2:1068-1069 (excerpts). Ostrom describes Griswold's text as "undoubtedly forged," L 2:490. No MS exists, but TOM [Iowa] considers it as "at least partly genuine. (SPR08-9 // SPR41-492; SP08-84.)

1845 - November 13 - Misdated

SP-085  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. A. Duyckinck (NY, NY). Misdated in H [Works], 17:222-223, and Heartman & Rede, 3:17. There is also a letter correctly dated as November 13, 1845 (SPR-583). See CL-545. (SP08-85.)

1845 - about 1845-1846 - Forgery

SP-086  

Poe (NY, NY) to — ? (— ?). A MS-fragment in ViU. L (1948) 1:306. Originally accepted by Ostrom, but validity suspected by TOM. A lack of history and a similarity to other items created by Cosey strongly imply forgery. (L48-221; SPR08-10 // SPR48-603; SP08-86.)

about 1845-1846 - Spurious

SP-086a

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. F. S. Osgood (NY, NY). Whitty, "Poeana," The Step Ladder, October 1927, 13:239-240. Whitty quotes a few sentences as if from a surviving MS fragment, but does not cite his source. (SPR08-10a // SP08-86a.)

1846 - March 28 - Misdated

SP-087  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. L. Fancher (NY, NY). Misdated by Poe. See CL-680a. (SP08-87.)

1846 - June 16 - Misdated

SP-088  

G. W. Eveleth (Phillips, ME) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Phillips, 2:1189. See CL-634. (SPR41-536; SP08-88.)

1846 - about July - Misdated

SP-089  

Miss A. C. Lynch (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). H [Works], 17:258-259 mistakenly implies the 1846 date. See CL-547. (SP08-89.)

1846 - August 7 - Forgery

SP-089a

Poe (Richmond, VA) to N. C. Brooks (Philadelphia, PA). Poe was in New York, not Richmond, on this date, and Brooks lived in Baltimore, not in Philadelphia, although he moved to that city after 1890 and died there in 1898. The letter bears tell-tale signs of J. Cosey as the forger, including his tendency to name drop. The manuscript was offered for sale at auction on April 9, 2016 by Alex Cooper Auctioneers (Towson, MD), identified as an interesting forgery, as lot 1004, with an estimate of $1,000-2,000, but it failed to sell. It was listed again by the same auction house for a sale of May 14, 2016, as lot 1083, for a slightly reduced estimate of $1,000-$1,500, but it again failed to sell. (A facsimile of the full letter was provided in the online catalogs for both dates.) (SPR16-11 // SP16-89a.)

1846 - August 9 - Forgery

SP-089b

Poe (NY, NY) to P. P. Cooke (Millwood, VA). Griswold prints the authentic Poe letter, but adds a forged phrase making a derogatory comment in regard to Duyckinck, Griswold's intention was probably to discourage Duyckinck from acting as a potential defender of Poe. G [Memoir], 3:xxxi (1850) and 1:xlvii (1853). See CL-654. (SPR08-11; SPR16-11a // SP08-89a; SP16-89b.)

1846 - November 14 - Spurious

SP-090  

Mrs. S. J. Hale (Philadelphia, PA) to Poe (NY, NY). No source is given in CL41. See CL-573. (SPR41-556; SP08-90.)

1846 - November - December (?) - Spurious

SP-091  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. T. Fields (Boston, MA). No source is given in CL41. (SPR41-566; SP08-91.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-092  

Poe (NY, NY) to A. N. Howard (NY, NY). This forgery is another in the series Cosey composed as if from Poe to Howard. Several of these forgeries are nearly identical in phrasing, while others contain changes presumably intended to reduce the chance of revealing themselves. Fantasy Collectors Annual, de la Ree, 1974 (quoted, with facsimile of signature, dated December 4). At one time, the owner was the famous magician Joseph Dunninger. (SPR08-12 // SP08-92.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-093  

Poe (NY, NY) to A. N. Howard (NY, NY) . This entry has been declared a forgery by the owner, NNS. American Literature. (November 1941) 13:283, cited. See B. R. Pollin, "A Spurious Poe Letter to A. N. Howard," Poe Studies (June 1973) 6:27-28. At one time, the MS was apparently in the collection of J. H. Whitty. (SPR08-13 // RCL48-659; RCL74-659; SP08-93.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-094  

Poe (NY, NY) to A. N. Howard (NY, NY) . This entry has been declared a forgery by the owner, InU (Lilly), and attributed to J. Cosey. (SPR08-14a // SP08-94.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-094a

Poe (NY, NY) to A. N. Howard (NY, NY) . This entry has been declared a forgery by the owner, InU (Lilly), and attributed to J. Cosey. (SPR08-14b // SP08-94a.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-094b

Poe (NY, NY) to A. N. Howard (NY, NY) . This entry has been declared a forgery by the owner, PP (Gimbel). (SPR08-14 // SP08-94b.)

1846 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-095  

Poe (NY, NY) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). Another forgery, almost surely by Joseph Cosey. Photocopy preserved by TOM [Iowa]. (SPR08-15 // SP08-95.)

1846 - December 8 - Forgery

SP-096  

N. P. Willis (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Forgery on the verso of SP-95. Photocopy preserved by TOM [Iowa]. (SP08-96.)

1846 - December 10 - Misdated

SP-097  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. A. Duyckinck (NY, NY). See CL-594. Misdated in ABC (1914), p. 779. (SP08-97.)

1846 - December 20 - Misidentified

SP-098  

Mrs. M. E. Hewitt (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Misidentified in CL41, and Heartman & Rede, 3:25. This letter is actually from Mrs. Hewitt to Mrs. F. S. Ogsood (see H [Works], 17:272-273, note 1). MS at MB. See CL-600. (SPR41-559; SP08-98.)

1846 - December 30 - Misdated

SP-099  

N. P. Willis (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Phillips, 2:1194, probably confused with the date of Poe's own letter. See CL-661. (SP08-99.)

1846 - [1846] (?) - Misidentified

SP-100  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (Philadelphia, PA). Misidentified in H [Works], 17:228. Actually part of CL-654. (SPR41-568; SP08-100.)

1846 - February 2 - Misdated

SP-100a

T. H. Chivers (Washington, GA) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Heartman & Rede, 3:24. See CL-673. (SP08-100a.)

1847 - February 3 (or 10 or 17) (?) - Misdated

SP-101  

N. P. Willis (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in CL41. See CL-661. (SPR41-572; SP08-101.)

1847 - February 7 - Forgery

SP-102  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to N. C. Bennett (Richmond, VA). Forgery attributed to Joseph Cosey. Sold on eBay on 12 December 1999, along with SP-23. (SPR08-16 // SP08-102.)

1847 - February 20 - Misdated

SP-103  

Mrs. J. E. Locke (Lowell, MA) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Phillips, 2:1214. See CL-675. (SP08-103.)

1847 - March 28 - Misdated

SP-104  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. L. Fancher (NY, NY). Misdated by Poe. See CL-680a. (SP08-104.)

1847 - August 7 - Forgery

SP-105  

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). This forgery was erroneously published as authentic in the new SLM, August 1941, 3:390-391. Listed in ABC (1972) as a forgery. SH $40 (1972). (SPR08-17 // SP08-105.)

1847 - August - Spurious

SP-106  

Poe (NY, NY) to G. Godfrey (Kent, England). Erroneously attributed in Phillips, 2:1230 and 2:1232. This is the article on "Copyright in America," from Blackwood's, August 1847. The article is in the form of a letter from an unnamed correspondent in New York to Godfrey. The article is not by Poe. (SP08-106.)

1847 - November 7 - Forgery

SP-106a

Poe (Philadelphia, PA) To N. P. Willis (NY, NY). This entry has been declared a forgery by the owner, InU (Lilly), and attributed to J. Cosey. (SPR08-17a // SP08-106a.)

1847 - before December 7 - Doubtful

SP-107  

A. H. Collins or Miss Ellsworth (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Based on Poe to A. H. Collins or Miss Ellsworth (SP-108), which is a doubtful entry. (SPR41-[A46]; SP08-107.)

1847 - December 7 - Doubtful

SP-108  

Poe (NY) to A. H. Collins or Miss Ellsworth (NY, NY). Richmond Times Dispatch, 15 April 1935. In CL48, Ostrom describes it as "very doubtful authenticity [?]" (SPR41-595 and CL41-[A46]; SPR48-[692a]; SP08-108.)

1847 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-109  

Poe (NY, NY) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). Hamilton, Great Forgers & Famous Fakes, 1980, p. 116 (F). (SPR08-18 // SP08-109.)

1848 - January 16 (?) (or earlier) - Spurious

SP-110  

H. D. Chapin (NY, NY) to Poe (Fordham, NY). An erroneous entry since Poe's letter to H. D. Chapin (SPR-696) does not indicate a letter from Chapin. (SPR41-[A47]; SP08-110.)

1848 - January (?) - Literary

SP-111  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. J. Hale or L. A. Godey (as editor of Godey's) (Philadelphia, PA). Godey's (February 1849) 39:133; Ingram 2:201; H [Works], 6:295 and 17:329-330; Phillips, 2:1369. This is a humorous introduction for Poe's tale "Mellonta Tauta" and not a real letter. (SPR08-19 // SPR41-656 and CL41-665; SP08-111.)

1848 - April 1 - Forgery/Hoax

SP-112  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. J. Hale (Philadelphia, PA). Godey's (December 1849) 39:417. This is part of the famous "Lady Hubbard" hoax. Actually addressed to Langfred Landing Granbbrok, although the signature of this fictitious author is unclear in the facsimile and the precise spelling of the intended name uncertain. (SPR08-20 // SPR41-605; SP08-112.)

1848 - May - Misdated

SP-113  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. L. Shew (NY, NY). Misdated by Ingram, Appleton's Journal (May 1878) ns 4:422. See CL-683. (SP08-113.)

1848 - May 9 - Misdated

SP-114  

G. W. Eveleth (Phillips, ME) to Poe (Fordham, NY). Misdated in Phillips, 2:1262. See CL-702. (SP08-114.)

1848 - about June 1 - Spurious

SP-115  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Poe sent the MS of "To Helen," but without a signature or letter. Without an actual letter or note, this item cannot be considered correspondence. (SP08-115.)

1848 - June 19 - Misdated

SP-116  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Miss A. Blackwell (Providence, RI). Misdated by Ingram, Woodberry, and Phillips. See CL-712. (SP08-116.)

1848 - June 21 - Misdated

SP-117  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. S. A. Lewis (NY, NY). Misdated by H [Works], 17:359-360. See CL-714. (SP08-117.)

1848 - September 8 - Misdated

SP-118  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Misdated in Century Magazine (January 1904) ns 55:445, and Phillips, 2:1312-1313. See CL-720. (SP08-118.)

1848 - November 16 (?) - Spurious

SP-119  

Mrs. M. Clemm (Fordham, NY) to Poe (Fordham, NY). This item was suggested by a letter from Mrs. M. Clemm to Mrs. A. L. Richmond, 16 November 1848 (RF-15), but was probably a direct communication rather than a letter. Poe was already back in Fordham with Mrs. Clemm by this time, making the need to write a letter unnecessary. (SPR41-633; SP08-119.)

1848 - November 19 - Spurious

SP-120  

Mrs. M. Clemm (Fordham, NY) to Poe (Fordham, NY). Poe was still in Fordham at this time, so such a letter seems unlikely. (SPR41-636; SP08-120.)

1848 - November 20 - Misdated

SP-120a

Miss S. A. Talley (Richmond, VA) to Poe (NY, NY). Misdated in Heartman & Rede, 3:26. See CL-749. (SP08-120a.)

1848 - November 20 - Misdated

SP-120b

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Misdated by Heartman & Rede, 3:34. See CL-746. (SP08-120b.)

1848 - November 22 - Misdated

SP-121  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Misdated by H [Works], 17:317-318, ignoring the actual letter of this date. See CL-746. (SP08-121.)

1848 - November 25 - Misdated

SP-122  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Misdated by H [Works], 17:320-322. See CL-745. (SP08-122.)

1848 - November 27 - Misdated

SP-123  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. L. Shew (NY, NY). Misdated by Ingram [Works], 1:lxxxii. See CL-691. (SP08-123.)

December 10 - Forgery

SP-123a

Poe (NY, NY) to Mr. Blair (— ?). Forgery attributed to Joseph Cosey. Sold on eBay on 31 January 2006. (SPR-20a // SP08-123a.)

1849 - January - Spurious

SP-124  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Lowell (Cambridge, MA). This is an error in reading W [1909], 2:294. The letter was written to a friend "in Lowell," rather than to Lowell, and therefore to Mrs. A. L. Richmond. See CL-768. (SPR41-666; SP08-124.)

1849 - January 18 - Misdated

SP-125  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Thompson (Richmond, VA). Misdated by Phillips, 2:1367-1368. See CL-764. (SP08-125.)

1849 - January 23 - Misdated

SP-126  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. A. L. Richmond (Lowell, MA). See CL-768. (SPR48-[769a]; SP08-126.)

1849 - January 25 - Misdated

SP-127  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. A. L. Richmond (Lowell, MA). See CL-768. (SPR48-[769b]; SP08-127.)

1849 - January 25 - Misdated

SP-128  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to Mrs. S. H. Whitman (Providence, RI). Misdated by Poe, perhaps in anticipation of the delay caused by sending it first to Mrs. A. L. Richmond (SPR-768). See CL-769. (SPR48-[769c]; SP08-128.)

1849 - early 1849 - Forgery

SP-129  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (NY, NY). G [Memoir], 3:vi (1850) and 1:xii (1853); H [Works], 17:326-327; Phillips, 2:1379-1380. No MS exists and Griswold's text is considered a forgery. This seems to be a forged version of LTR-321. If at least partially authentic, the reference to the forthcoming review of Female Poets of America would date the letter as January 1849. Ostrom describes it as "undoubtedly a forgery," L [1948], 2:542. (SPR08-21 // SP08-129.)

1849 - March 30 - Misdated

SP-130  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. L. Shew (NY, NY). Misdated by H [Works], 17:344. See CL-703. (SP08-130.)

1849 - April 7 - Forgery

SP-130a

Poe (NY, NY) to N. C. Brooks (Philadelphia, PA). Forgery attributed to Joseph Cosey. MS InU (Lilly). (SP21-130a.)

1849 - April 8 - Misdated

SP-131  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. H. N. Patterson (Oquawka, IL). Misdated by Allen, 2:809. See CL-786. (SP08-131.)

1849 - May 7 - Misdated

SP-132  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. H. N. Patterson (Oquawka, IL). Misdated by Allen, 2:811 and 815. See CL-794. (SP08-132.)

1849 - before May 10 - Restored

SP-132a

J. R. Thompson (Richmond, VA) to Poe (NY, NY). This entry, along with SP-133, has been restored to the main list; see CL-788. (SP08-132a.)

1849 - May 10 - Restored

SP-133  

Poe (NY, NY) to J. R. Thompson (Richmond, VA).This entry, along with SP-133, has been restored to the main list; see CL-789. (LTR48-313 // SP08-133.)

1849 - about May - Forgery

SP-134  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (NY, NY). G [Memoir], 3:vi-vii (1850) and 1:xxii-xxiii (1853); H [Works], 17:346-347; Phillips, 2:1398-1399 and 1415 (postscript). The letter text itself is authentic, with minor changes plus addition of last phrase, before the signature (SPR-796). The postscript is a forgery. (SPR08-23 // SP08-134.)

1849 - June 7 - Misidentified

SP-135  

Poe (NY, NY) to E. H. N. Patterson (Oquawka, IL). Misidentified in CL41, based on a misreading of Phillips, 2:1432. See CL-798. (SPR41-686; SP08-135.)

1849 - June 19 - Misdated

SP-136  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. L. Shew (NY, NY). Misdated by Quinn, p. 609-611. See CL-716. (SP08-136.)

1849 - June 21 - Misdated

SP-137  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. S. A. Lewis (NY, NY). Misdated in H [Works], 17:359-360. See CL-714. (SPR41-690; SP08-137.)

1849 - June 29 - Spurious

SP-138  

Poe (NY, NY) to R. W. Griswold (NY, NY). This item is presumably based on Mrs. Clemm's 8 October 1849 letter to Griswold, in which she says that she has a "message" from Poe for Griswold. In CL48, Ostrom says "such a letter was probably never written." (SPR41-694; SPR48-[806a]; SP08-138.)

1849 - June - Misdated

SP-139  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. M. L. Shew (NY, NY). Misdated by Mrs. Shew in her transcript for Ingram, reprinted in Appleton's Journal (May 1878), ns 4:423-424. See CL-716. (SP08-139.)

1849 - July 23 - Misdated

SP-140  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to Mrs. M. Clemm (NY, NY). Misdated by Phillips, 2:1480. See CL-816. (SP08-140.)

1849 - June - July - Spurious

SP-141  

R. W. Griswold (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Cited in Scribner's Magazine (March 1878) 15:714; repeated by Phillips, 2:1409, 1484, and 1559; W [1909], 2:339. Mrs. Weiss claimed to have seen a letter in which Griswold accepted Poe's offer to serve as Poe's literary executor. Given the questionable motivation for such a request, and Mrs. Clemm's and Griswold's contradictory statements on the matter, such a correspondence must be deemed unlikely. (SPR41-697; SP08-141.)

1849 - August 5 - Misdated

SP-142

Poe (Richmond, VA) to Mrs. M. Clemm (Fordham, NY). Misdated in NYU Magazine(Spring 1987) II, no. 1. and PSA Newsletter (Fall 1987) 15:2. See CL-719c. (SP08-142.)

1849 - August 17 - Forgery

SP-143

Poe (Richmond, VA) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). Union Art sale (Ford), 9 May 1934, item 181. ABC, 1935, describes this letter as "Closing Portion of a L. S. 1p., obl. 4to. Fordham, August 17, 1849. To N. P. Willis, concerning a contribution to 'The Home Journal.' With 'The Cask of Amontillado' excerpted from a Mag.; together 2 pieces" (p. 638). The strong sense of "too good to be true" makes one suspicious about this item even without being able to examine it. This letter purports to be from the last few months of Poe's life, to a prominent celebrity friend, mentioning two contributions, including one of Poe's most famous stories. Poe's friendship with N. P. Willis was routinely exploited by forgers such as J. Cosey, who was active about 1930. "The Cask of Amontillado" was printed in Godey's Lady's Book in November 1846 and never reprinted during Poe's lifetime. No Poe contribution appeared in The Home Journal between "For Annie" (April 28, 1849) and Willis' obituary of Poe (October 20, 1849), which includes "Annabel Lee," from Griswold's "Ludwig" article of October 9, 1849 in the NY Tribune, which Willis also quotes. Note the five forgeries from Poe to A. N. Howard (SP-92, SP-93, SP-94, SP-94a, and SP-94b) and another from Poe to Willis (SP-96), which also mention "The Cask of Amontillado." MS unlocated, but almost certainly a forgery. SH $21 (1934) (SPR41-708; SPR48-818; SP08-143.)

1849 - September 29 - Spurious

SP-144  

Poe (Richmond, VA) to J. M. Daniel (Richmond, VA). Historical Magazine(January 1871) 19:39-40 (excerpts); W [1909], 2:425 and 447-448, cited. In this letter, widely reported in various newspapers at the time, Poe supposedly admitted that Samuel Fenwick had written "The Raven." The letter was publicized as found in a barn in New Jersey about July 1870. The story, of course, is wholly fabricated. (SPR08-24 // SPR41-718; SP08-144.)

1849 - November - Misdated

SP-145  

Poe (NY, NY) to Mrs. S. A. Lewis (NY, NY). Misdated by Ingram, 2:219. See CL-689. (SP08-145.)

1849 - December 7 - Forgery

SP-146  

Poe (NY, NY) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). Noted as a Joseph Cosey forgery by Charles Hamilton. This is probably the same as SP-108, with the year misread. (SP08-146.)

1849 - December 8 - Misdated

SP-147  

Poe (Fordham, NY) to N. P. Willis (NY, NY). Misdated by H [Works], 17:324-325. See CL-693. (SP08-147.)

n. d. - Misidentified

SP-148  

Mrs. S. A. Lewis (NY, NY) to Poe (NY, NY). Anderson sale (Meacham), 19 March 1917, item 1076, cited. This entry, concerning Politian, is an error. The ALS is actually from Mrs. S. A. Lewis to Mr. Ross, not Poe . MS at TxU-Hu. (SPR41-732; SPR48-829 and CL48-[830q]; SP08-148.)

n. d. - Forgery

SP-149  

Poe (— ?) to J. H. Payne (— ?). Howard Paul, "Recollections of EAP," Munsey's Magazine, August 1892, 7:554-558 (reprinted in Lambert's Monthly, September 1892, pp. 22-25); Phillips, 1:832 (excerpts). This supposed letter is little more than an altered excerpt of the fourth paragraph from Poe's review of Barnaby Rudge from Graham's Magazine(February 1842). (SPR08-25 // SP08-149.)