# Edgar Allan Poe’s "Tamerlane": A Writer's Cautionary Tale
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Chapter 1: The Origins of a Literary Rarity
What would you be willing to pay for Edgar Allan Poe's inaugural published work? This question has resurfaced recently as Poe's "Tamerlane and Other Poems" went up for auction.
"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 vividly remember the first piece I ever published online. While it remains a significant milestone for me, it garnered a mere thirteen readers. Despite this early embarrassment, I’ve persisted for about six years, experiencing a blend of successes and setbacks. This makes the story of a particular historical artifact resonate with me — and likely with many aspiring writers: a book published in 1827, of which Sotheby’s estimates only about fifty copies were ever printed. The author, lacking confidence in his work, chose to remain anonymous, labeling himself simply as "A Bostonian." The book's title? Tamerlane and Other Poems.
By a stroke of luck, twelve of the original copies still exist, one of which was auctioned on June 26, 2024. As you may have guessed from the title and quote above, the author is none other than Edgar Allan Poe, a name that has become synonymous with literary excellence. Poe's The Murders in the Rue Morgue pioneered the modern detective genre, influencing iconic characters like Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. His tale, The Fall of the House of Usher, elevated the short story format from obscurity to recognition, and it even inspired a popular Netflix adaptation. Classics like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Raven continue to captivate audiences, frequently reenacted on platforms like YouTube — even by shows like The Simpsons — despite being around for roughly 150 years.
However, the Poe who wrote Tamerlane was not the acclaimed figure we know today. He was just eighteen, experiencing his own awkward beginnings in the literary world.
Section 1.1: A Book Not Judged by Its Cover
"If ever a book ought not to be judged by its cover, Edgar Allan Poe's debut collection, Tamerlane and Other Poems, is that book."
— Bradford Morrow, Literary Hub, In Search of the Rarest Book in American Literature: Edgar Allan Poe's Tamerlane
Bradford Morrow, a serial author and Poe enthusiast, notes that upon first glance, Tamerlane is hardly impressive. Morrow himself has examined four of the remaining twelve copies and acknowledges its rarity, dubbing it the "black tulip" of American literature.
In 1827, the young Poe approached a novice printer, Calvin F.W. Thomas, who was also eighteen. Thomas's print shop primarily focused on advertisements and calling cards rather than books. Morrow describes the cover as a chaotic mix of typefaces within an ornamental frame, resembling a jumble of geometric shapes. In essence, Thomas cobbled together various fonts he used for his advertising work to create the cover for Tamerlane. It was far from glamorous.
The book measures roughly six by four inches, looking more like a label than a coveted literary piece. Yet, this was all Poe could afford at the time.
The Encyclopedia Britannica recounts Poe's early life, noting that he lost his mother as a child and was sent to live with relatives in Richmond, Virginia. He received a classical education, even traveling to Scotland and England, but later faced setbacks. Poe lasted only eleven months at the University of Virginia due to overwhelming gambling debts, which prompted his stepparents to withdraw him from school. Subsequently, he enlisted in the army, using his meager earnings to pay for Thomas's services, which were likely within his budget. Unfortunately, much like his gambling experiences, this venture did not end well.
Section 1.2: The Book’s Disheartening Reception
Morrow indicates that Tamerlane suffered from poor production quality, was overlooked by literary critics, and failed to sell. Even Poe seemed to distance himself from it. Although he later reissued some of these poems in other collections, Tamerlane remained obscure until 1925. That year, journalist Charles Vincent Emerson Starrett penned an article titled "Have You A Tamerlane In Your Attic," which sparked a nationwide search for hidden copies of Poe's work. This craze eventually led to the discovery of five previously unknown copies.
The copy sold at Sotheby’s on June 26 was one of these.
Chapter 2: The Auction and Its Significance
Only five of the surviving copies feature covers; others are stained or damaged. Morrow recalls that one stained copy looked as if it had once served as a drink coaster. It's said that Thomas may have intentionally marred the notched copy to prevent its return. Thus, even the printer did not wish to reclaim it.
Much of the text revolves around a poem dedicated to Tamerlane, a historical Turkic conqueror known for his brutal military campaigns across the Mediterranean, India, and Russia. Poe took significant liberties with Tamerlane’s story, depicting him making a deathbed confession to a friar. This serves as a caution against excessive ambition, as Tamerlane laments a lost love sacrificed for worldly conquests. This is ironic advice coming from an eighteen-year-old who gambled his limited resources on a dream of literary success.
Although Tamerlane was not a triumph in its time, the risk ultimately paid off. Today, it is considered a classic and a collector's item. This brings us back to the Sotheby’s auction.
As the final gavel struck at 11:59 AM at Sotheby’s in England, the last bid reached $420,000. While this fell short of the auction house's expectations of around $600,000—especially since a previous copy had fetched that amount—it still set a record for American literature.
From the perspective of a writer who has faced the embarrassment of an unremarkable first publication, this outcome feels like a resounding success. This over-inked, notched, and stained copy—published without the author's name—sold for a sum equivalent to a luxury vehicle. The value lies not only in its history but also in the miracle that this "black tulip" exists and that Poe continued to write despite his early failures.
This serves as an essential reminder for all writers navigating their unique challenges. Only we understand the frustration of being overlooked, grappling with writer’s block, or struggling to articulate the vivid images in our minds. Such hurdles can be disheartening enough to drive any writer to abandon their craft.
Fortunately for us, Poe never ceased to take risks. While not all writers will reach the caliber of this literary giant, each writer who quits diminishes the chances of a modern-day Poe emerging. Indeed, the path to literary greatness often begins with a few missteps.
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