A letter between two titans of American Literature will soon be on display at Richmond, Virginia's, The Poe Museum.
The 1914 E. Main St. center recently received a letter written by poet Edgar Allan Poe to Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
At the time Poe wrote the letter, Irving was one of the most popular authors in America, and Poe was a struggling younger writer. Poe wrote to Irving asking him to read one of his short stories and to share his opinion of it.
The Poe Museum recently received a letter written by famed poet Edgar Allan Poe to Washington Irving, author of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”
At the time Poe penned it, Irving was one of the most popular authors in America, and Poe was a struggling younger writer. Poe wrote to Irving asking him to read one of his short stories and to share his opinion of it.
The letter was gifted to the museum from Susan Jaffe Tane, a literary collector and friend of the Poe Museum.
“It is my favorite piece, and it shows Poe was humble enough to ask for advice from one of the greatest writers of his generation,” said Tane.
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Tane’s gift to the Poe Museum also included three more Edgar Allan Poe letters, one of his manuscripts, a first edition of his last book "Eureka," and a book that Poe inscribed as a gift to a young admirer, which was featured on an episode of the PBS series "Antiques Roadshow" before Tane acquired it.
Tane’s gift to the Poe Museum also included three more Edgar Allan Poe letters, one of his manuscripts, a first edition of his last book "Eureka", and a book that Poe inscribed as a gift to a young admirer, which was featured on an episode of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow before Tane acquired it.
"Susan’s gift to the Poe Museum illuminates not only a fascinating stage in Poe’s career, but a relationship between two great American authors of the 19th century. We look forward to displaying and interpreting the letter for the public, and are excited to include the letter in our renovated exhibit spaces opening in early 2025," said Maeve Jones, executive director of the Poe Museum.
Poe began his journalism career in Richmond at the Southern Literary Messenger. He wanted to be a teacher, but his application was rejected by two different schools. After the Richmond Academy turned him down, he went to work full-time for the Messenger and spent the rest of his life writing for magazines.
Poet and storyteller Edgar Allan Poe spent most of his youth in Richmond.
One of his most popular stories, "The Tell-Tale Heart," was rejected by the first magazine he tried to sell it to. He eventually persuaded another magazine to pay him $10 for the story. His most popular poem, "The Raven," was rejected twice by magazine editors before he finally persuaded a political journal called the American Review to buy it for $15. The poem was an immediate hit, and Poe started performing it to sold-out theaters in major U.S. cities.
Poe died in 1849 and is buried in Baltimore. His mother Eliza Poe is buried at St John's Church in Richmond's Church Hill neighborhood.
From the archives: Edgar Allan Poe
With a mustache cutout pasted to a popsicle stick and a raven stuffed animal, Maddox Barnes, 7, pretends to be Edgar Allan Poe at the celebration of Poe's 206th birthday held at the Poe Museum in Richmond, Jan. 17, 2015.
Tiffany Kramer (left) and Cody Bond view a bust of Edgar Allan Poe on the grounds of the Poe Museum where they took part in the celebration of Poe's 206th birthday, Jan. 17, 2015.
Chris Semtner is director of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Photographed Oct. 20, 2017
Chris Semtner is director of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. Photographed Oct. 20, 2017. Semtner holds Edgar, one of two black cats who call the museum home and the bust of Poe carries a lipstick reminder from a guest.
Detail of a memorial to Edgar Allan Poe by sculptor Richard Henry Park originally displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts by the actors of New York. It is now on display at the Poe Museum.
Dr. Floyd Tesmer, a professor at Strayer University, poses with a statue of Edgar Allan Poe for his wife who was taking his picture at the Poe Museum Sunday, January 22, 2006, during an open house to celebrate Poe's 197th birthday. Tesmer said his mother read Poe to him as a child before they would go trick-or-treating.
The artwork of Perrymont Middle school student Jason Smith is photographed at the Poe Museum in Richmond on 3/23/10. Art inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works and created by Chesterfield County's Perrymont Middle students is on display through March 31 at the Poe Museum. The museum honored the students' creativity during a reception.
Several theories about Edgar Allen Poe's death which will be feautured in the upcoming exhibit at The Poe Museum will include theories that he was murdered, or died from a beating or diabetes.
Chris Semtner, museum manager of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum, holds a rare document -- a letter written by Poe to a magazine editor. The museum paid $18,000 for the document, which goes on display during an open house on Jan. 16. Photo taken Tuesday, January 4, 2005.
Edgar Allan Poe signed this letter he wrote to a magazine editor. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum paid $18,000 for the rare document, which goes on display during an open house on Jan. 16. Photo taken Tuesday, January 4, 2005.
Reflected in a mirror, Carter Owens, 15, views a bust of Edgar Allan Poe in the outdoor shrine of the Edgar Allan Poe Museum. The bust is a plaster copy of the 100-year-old original. Carter, from the Atlanta, GA area, was passing through Richmond on his way to the inauguration of President-elect Obama. The Poe Museum is celebrating the 200th birthday of the literary giant. The mirror was in place for a 2 a.m. seance Monday. Poe was born Jan. 19, 1809 and died Oct. 7, 1849.
Fay Howell of Macon, GA views photographs of Edgar Allan Poe at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in downtown Richmond. The Poe Museum is celebrating the 200th birthday of the literary giant. Poe was born Jan. 19, 1809 and died Oct. 7, 1849.
Bust of Edgar Allan Poe is placed at the garden of Poe Museum in Richmond on Saturday, January 18, 2014.
Paul Hudert of Richmond and his sons, Kaelis Arcane, 11, and Talyn Arcane, 7, look on portraits of Edgar Allan Poe during Poe's Birthday Bash at Poe Museum in Richmond on Saturday, January 18, 2014.
One of the banners on the flood wall near the the downtown Canal Walk. This banner honors Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson and Edgar Allan Poe.
This September 1965 image shows the Enchanted Garden at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond. Just a few blocks from the writer’s first Richmond home, the museum contains an extensive collection of Poe manuscripts, memorabilia and more.
