# Is "The Raven and Other Poems" by Edgar Allan Poe a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe (Wiley & Putnam, 1845) is identified by: First book appearance of 'The Raven,' issued November 19, 1845 in Wiley & Putnam's 'Library of American Books' (No. US true first, 1845.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- First book appearance of 'The Raven,' issued November 19, 1845 in Wiley & Putnam's 'Library of American Books' (No
- The volume was first issued separately in printed pink paper wrappers (the rarest and earliest state); it was also issued, and from early 1846 bound together with Poe's 'Tales'
- , in publisher's dark green cloth stamped in blind with gilt spine lettering
- Earliest copies include the half-title and the publisher's series and advertisement leaves
- Publisher imprint reads Wiley & Putnam
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Edgar Allan Poe |
| Publisher | Wiley & Putnam |
| Year | 1845 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | First book appearance of 'The Raven,' issued November 19, 1845 in Wiley & Putnam's 'Library of American Books' (No |
| Book-club edition exists? | — |

## Points of issue
First book appearance of 'The Raven,' issued November 19, 1845 in Wiley & Putnam's 'Library of American Books' (No. VIII). The volume was first issued separately in printed pink paper wrappers (the rarest and earliest state); it was also issued, and from early 1846 bound together with Poe's 'Tales' (1845), in publisher's dark green cloth stamped in blind with gilt spine lettering. Earliest copies include the half-title and the publisher's series and advertisement leaves.

## Is this the true first?
US true first, 1845. The original separate issue in pink printed wrappers is the earliest and most fragile state; the cloth-bound form (often combined with 'Tales') followed. The 'London' association reflects only Wiley & Putnam's Waterloo Place address on the imprint, not a separately printed London edition, so no distinct simultaneous London issue should be asserted.

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
Later collected-Poe editions reprint the text; the genuine first is the 1845 Wiley & Putnam 'Library of American Books' issue with pink wrappers (or the correct dark green cloth) and the series and advertisement leaves.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *The Raven and Other Poems* by Edgar Allan Poe a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/the-raven-and-other-poems
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-04.