The Raven By Edgar Allan Poe. Illustrated by Harold Copping

London, Paris, New York: Raphael Tuck & Sons Limited, 1895. Undated; circa 1895. Illustrated rarity from Raphael Tuck & Sons, Limited. Stated at title page: "Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen, London, Paris, New York. Designed at the Studios in England. Printed at the Fine Art Works in Saxony." Thick pictorial wraps w/raised titles and leafy border, some fade, pencilling, small dents, lower corner material missing. Elegant cover features the lovelorn with head in hands seated and ensconced in light w/winged angel Lenore in white standing above and reaching out to console his head. Scene surrounded by raised green and red ivy amid starry evening and full moon. Red, faintly wilting rose and another similar w/petals closed over white b.g. at back cover; also with pencilling. Unique wavy cut perimeter to cover and text edges. Heavy stock leaves generally very good, clean. Edge wear to cover and endpaper, title page. Pre-printed To and From inside cover: "To Fred Haynes Gilliam, From P. Turney Gilliam". Title page features the raven perched at paned window among tree branches. Illustrated by Harold Copping throughout with decorative designs and vignettes among text. Features four wonderfully vibrant full-page chromolithographic designs. These four scenes appear almost Hammer-like in their color and striking tone. Harold Copping was rather famous for his vivid imagery in illustrated Bibles of the era. String-bind good, intact. Intriguing colophon inside back cover of easel and pallette: "RTS, Artist Sep., Publishers to Her Majesty the Queen, No. 2665." A charming piece of illustrated publishing history. Insure post. Edgar Allan Poe's hazy narrative begins on a night in December when "The Raven" haunts the unnamed narrator who sits reading "forgotten lore" to sublimate the loss of his love, Lenore. A "rapping at his chamber door" reveals nothing, yet excites his soul to "burning". A similar rapping, slightly louder, is heard at his window. When he investigates, a raven enters his chamber. Paying no attention, the raven perches atop a bust of Pallas high above the door. Amused by the raven's comically serious disposition, the man asks that the bird tell him its name. The raven's only answer is "Nevermore". The narrator is surprised that the raven can talk, though at this point it has said nothing further. The narrator remarks to himself that his "friend" will soon fly out of his life, just as "other friends have flown before". The raven responds again with "Nevermore". The narrator reasons that the bird learned the word "Nevermore" from some "unhappy master" and that it is the only word it knows.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fair. Illus. by Copping, Harold. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.