Exceptional unsigned poem stanza in Poe’s hand on the second page of a two page 8 x 9 unsigned manuscript sent by William Maxwell to the owner of the Southern Literary Messenger when Poe was its editor. The manuscript is addressed on the reverse to Thomas White. The first page bears a 16-line poem entitled Sacred Song. Reverse bears another poem, eight lines, entitled Madrigal, The Wreath. Under this poem, Poe writes, “Spiritual Song. Hark, echo!—Hark, echo! ‘Tis the sound of archangels, in happiness wrapt.” Entire manuscript is housed in an 18 x 12 leather presentation folder. In very good condition, with intersecting folds, scattered creasing, soiling and toning, paper loss to right edge of Poe’s page from wax seal, and some stray ink marks.
While working as an editor, Poe remained loyal to his employer, for the most part allowing only that publication to print anything he had written. Clearly, however, Poe was still creating other works. In this example, he takes an item submitted by Maxwell, a poet and secretary of the Virginia Historical Society, and toys with the notion of improving upon his idea! Poe showed no interest in the latter offering, although he very well may have trying to revise Sacred Song—coming up with an alternative title—before instead contacting its author. Sacred Song was published as a Maxwell submission in August 1836.
As for Spiritual Song, the page was stashed away and forgotten for decades, finally unearthed from Poe’s old desk in 1908. It was first published in a volume of Poe’s work in 1911. Literary historians maintain that Poe wrote the three lines for which he is credited but never revisited the topic. Poe joined the staff of the Southern Literary Messenger as a writer and critic in August 1835. His alcoholism led to his firing in September, but he had regained a sufficient amount of self-control to be rehired in October, and by December was the journal’s editor. It was during this time that he established himself as one of the greatest critics of his day, having published thirty-seven reviews of American and foreign publications. Poe’s presence at the helm didn’t hurt readership, either, as the subscription rate increased from about 700 people to some 5,500 new fans less than two years later. This rare, desirable stanza offers a glimpse at the creative mind of a genius. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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