Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie — 1843-04-22
Read the 1843-04-22 letter from Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie locally. Poe asks Mackenzie to inquire discreetly about purchasing the Southern Literary Messenger.
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 Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library (1899), page 89. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe asks Mackenzie to inquire discreetly about purchasing the Southern Literary Messenger. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word.
Original publication
Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie — 1843-04-22
Date
1843-04-22
Credits
Edgar Allan Poe
Reference collection
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore (historical letter transcription)
Checked full letter boundaries, correspondence/date identity, documented early publication and text overlap against previously published local readings.
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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 Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library (1899), page 89. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe asks Mackenzie to inquire discreetly about purchasing the Southern Literary Messenger. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word.
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Local historical letter reading
Reading transcription · Review label: Known limitations
Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie — 1843-04-22
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 Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library (1899), page 89. This record preserves the electronic letter text, not a scan of that printed witness or the autograph. Poe asks Mackenzie to inquire discreetly about purchasing the Southern Literary Messenger. Typography is simplified. The transcription has not been independently proofread word by word.
Philadelphia April 22. 1843
My Dear Thomas,
About a fortnight ago, I wrote to Peter D. Bernard, who married one of T. W. White's daughters, and made inquiry about “The Southern Literary Messenger”, but have received no reply. I am very anxious to ascertain if it is for sale, and if it is, I wish to purchase it (through my friends here). You wrote me, some time ago, that the heirs had not made up their minds respecting it. Would you do me the favor, now, to call upon Bernard, or upon some one of the other heirs, and inquire about it? I can’t imagine why Bernard did not reply to my letter. If the list is for sale I would make arrangements for its immediate purchase upon terms which would be fully satisfactory to the heirs. But do not let them suppose I am too anxious. By the bye, there may be some prejudice, on the part of the heirs, against me individually, on account of my quitting White — suppose, then, you get some one of your friends to negotiate for you and don’t let me be known in the business at all. Merely ascertain if the list is for sale & upon what terms. Please oblige me in this matter as soon as possible, as I am exceedingly anxious about it. Tell Rose that Virginia is much better, toe and all, & that she has been out lately, several times, taking long walks. She sends a great deal of love to all. Remember me kindly to the whole family & believe me
Yours most truly, Edgar A Poe
“Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie — 1843-04-22.” 1843-04-22. Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie — 1843-04-22. Crypt of Echoes evidence ID LED-2026-7e35850523b6478bbc1f6edf578fa816. https://cryptofechoes.com/evidence/LED-2026-7e35850523b6478bbc1f6edf578fa816. Accessed [date].
Catalogue citation: Edgar Allan Poe to Thomas G. Mackenzie, 1843-04-22. Scholarly catalogue RCL-431a. Early publication: Descriptive Catalogue of the Gluck Collection of Manuscripts and Autographs in the Buffalo Public Library (1899), page 89.
Underlying nineteenth-century letter documented as published before 1931; public domain in the United States. Modern commentary and editorial correction glosses excluded.
