The Raven

New York & London: E. P. Dutton and Company, 1883. Soft cover. Good/No Jacket. 4to - over 8" tall. W. L. Taylor. A late nineteenth century illustrated edition of the classic poem by the master of the macabre. Dated 1883 on recto of title page but bearing an intriguing inscription on endpaper "From Mrs Telford Received in London 16 Jany -/84 Wrecked on the Celtic". R.M.S. Celtic, used on the New York to Liverpool route, was wrecked, outside Cork harbour, on the 10th December 1928 and all passengers were saved. Unfortunately, the passenger list is unavailable but an earlier passenger list for the same ship (19th May 1928) has, on board, Mrs I Telford and Master Telford as passengers - perhaps the same Mrs Telford? The inscription may also indicate that the book was presented to the writer in January 1884 and they wished to record the fact that the donor was present on the Celtic when it was wrecked? Who knows? Internally in very good condition but soft card covers are chipped in places and most of the fringe has been lost. Spine chipped and A.E.G. Uncommon edition. Unpaginated but complete.