Eureka: A Prose Poem (1848) (Hurst-Wakeman copy, with annotations), title page and table of contents

Notes:

In the original book, Poe's main text runs as a single section, with no divisions. Here, we have broken it into smaller sections for the sake of improving the loading of the pages. There is also no table of contents in the original. One has been created here merely for purposes of convenience.

On the front flyleaf of this copy is the signature of Rufus Wilmot Griswold, followed by a note that the book was: “Poe's Private copy of Eureka.” Poe's annotations begin after the Preface. This copy also bears the very simple bookplate of Stephen H. Wakeman, giving his name only.

The copyright information, on the back of the title page, reads:

At the bottom left corner of the copygright page, the printer is identified as “LEAVITT, TROW & CO. Prs.,” at “33 Ann-street.”

The advertisement, bound in the back of the book with numerous other ads, reads simply: “Poe. — Eureka, A Prose Poem: Or the Physical and Metaphysical Universe. By Edgar A. Poe, Esq. Handsomely printed. 12mo cloth, 75 cents.”

Among the many minor changes made by Poe in this copy, he generally changes “upon” to “on” and “irradiation” to “radiation.” He also extends the use of the phrase “the Universe of Stars” in places that previously referred only to “the Universe.” In addition, Poe makes numerous changes in capitalization of individual words, both for consistency and for emphasis.