Edgar Allan Poe to Robert Montgomery Bird — 1835-10-08

Edgar Allan Poe to Robert Montgomery Bird — 1835-10-08 Local historical letter reading from the Poe Society’s manuscript-text page, with modern correction glosses and website material excluded. The scholarly checklist documents an early printed witness in Anderson Galleries catalogue, November 13–14, 1916, item 71. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe wrote on behalf of Southern Literary Messenger proprietor Thomas W. White. The date follows the scholarly checklist; later sale catalogues misdated it. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word. Richmond Oct. 8, 1835 At the request of Mr. Thomas W. White, Proprietor of the “Southern Literary Messenger,” published in this city, I take the liberty of addressing you, and soliciting your aid in the way of occasional or regular contributions to his Magazine. Being well aware that your time is fully occupied, I confess that I have little hope of being able so far to interest you in behalf of a merely Southern Journal as to obtain that assistance which you have refused to your more immediate neighbours. But the value of any contribution you might afford us rendered it incumbent upon me to make the attempt, at all events, in accordance with his desire. Very respt. Yr. ob. st. Edgar A. Poe