The S. H. Whitman copy of Broadway Journal (with changes about October 1848)

Trimmed page size: 11 1/4 inches high x 7 3/4 wide. Bound in half black roan, with the rare final issue, and a prospectus originally printed in the Democratic Review of March 1845 laid in.

There were several copies of the original volumes of the Broadway Journal, but this copy, with Poe's pencilled annotations, presumably made about October 1848 in preparation for presentation to Mrs. Sarah Helen Whitman. The provenance of this entry is established as authoritatively as possible, given the sketchy and often convoluted bits of information available:

• Huntington Library, San Marino, CA Given by Poe to Sarah Helen Whitman, this set includes a number of pencil notations, made by Poe, identifying many articles as his. On the title page of volume I is the inscription: “To S. H. W. from E. A. P.” and on the top of the index to volume I Mrs. Whitman's note “Given to S. H. W. by E. A. P. [[new line]] October 1848.” There are also a number of notes, in Poe's hand, which are of considerable interest. On the top of the first page of volume I, no. 1, Poe wrote: “N. B. -- It was not until No. 10 that I had anything to do with this journal as Editor” (quoted by Pollin, IV, p. lii).In the issue of September 27, 1845, Poe wrote: “N. B. -- The poem which I sent you [[To Helen]] contained all the events of a dream which occurred to me soon after I knew you [[new line]] Ligeia was also suggested by a dream. Observe the eyes in both tale & poem” (quoted by Mabbott, Poems, p. 444). In addition, there are several other marks, such as words or paragraphs which are underlined or minor corrections. By the reprint of “Morella,” along the margin of page 388, Poe wrote: “Jane Stannard  Helen Stannard  Helen Whitman — Helen  Ellen  Elenore  Lenore!” (Mabbott, Poems, p. 331).  This set is currently at the Huntington Library. (The Whitman copy is also partly described by Pollin, volume 4, pp. li-liii.) Mrs. Whitman sent the set to John H. Ingram, who retained them after Mrs. Whitman's death. Ingram sold a number of choice items from his Poe collection in 1889, including this set of the Broadway Journal. (A short comment about the auction printed in the Boston Post of July 17, 1889, p. 4, col. 5) records that the set was “knocked down at six guineas.” About 1902, the set was owned by F. R. Halsey, who allowed it to be examined by J. A. Harrison. Halsey purchased the set from the sale of the collection of McKee, paying $240 (see New York Times for November 24, 1900, p. 33).