America’s Rarest Book Just Went Up For Auction, All Writers Should Take Note
What would you pay for Edgar Allen Poe’s first attempt at published writing?
“In visions of the dark night I have dream’d of joy departed — But a waking dream of life and light Hath left me broken-hearted.”
― Edgar Allan Poe, Tamerlane & Other Poems: A Collection of Poems
I have a keen recollection of the first thing I ever wrote and published on the internet for the world to see. While it may be memorable for me, no one else agreed. A total of thirteen people read it.
Despite the cringeworthy episode, I’ve kept at it for about six years now with mixed results. That’s why a certain item from history speaks to me, and possibly to every writer out there, pushing things into the ether.
It’s a book that was originally published in 1827, and according to Sotheby’s auction house, no more than fifty copies were produced. The author was so tentative about the quality that he didn’t even put his name on it. The writer is listed as “A Bostonian,” and the vague title of the work is Tamerlane and Other Poems.
By some luck, twelve of the original copies survive today, one of which was sold on June 26, 2024. As you’ve read the title — and quote above —…
