Book expert for auction house Christie’, Francis Wahlgren, described the book as “the black tulip of U.S. literature.” Not bad for a book that was published without an author attribution! Tamerlane and Other Poems, written by “a Bostonian,” is actually the first published book by Edgar Allan Poe. There are 12 copies known to exist, out of an original print run of 40-50 books. That’s why it’s one of the world’s rarest books, and that’s why the book went for a record $662,000 at auction!
You’d think that the recession might dampen the market for the super-expensive collectible book, but I guess not. The last copy of Tamerlane that went up for auction sold for $250,000 nearly two decades ago, and I think we were in a recession then, too. That just goes to show you that money always has money to spend, especially on the first work of a horror master.
Tags: Edgar Allan Poe, Tamerlane and Other Poems, first Poe book at auction, 2000 book at auction, rare Poe book for sale, Christie’s auction house, auctions, Francis Wahlgren, rare books
