The Raven, Illustrated by W. L. Taylor Hardcover - 1891

31 West Twenty-Third St. New York: E. P. Dutton & Company, 1891. First edition thus. 1891 date at title page; 1883 copyright. Rare early printing. Beautifully detailed, haunting illustrations and accent throughout by W. L. Taylor; drawn and engraved under the supervision of George T. Andrew. Pictorial padded boards, some cover, corner, edge, spine wear, chip, rub; dark brown cloth bind reinforcement to exterior spine. Cover depicts what appears to be Lenore with oil lamp in panel with titles and floral patterned decoration surrounding; back board with additional floral motifs. Smooth coated, heavy stock leaves generally fair to good with some staining, attractive toning, mended tears, chip. Neat antiquarian fountain-penned date inside cover: "January 30th, 1892." Illustration of Lenore wafting with angels through dream time and space, removed; and, final image of skull with raven upon table among open letters has open tear and apprx. half of original leaf remaining. These two replaced with larger high quality scans correctly tipped-in from complete images. String-bind good, intact. Solid example of this rare edition and cover art. Edgar Allan Poe's hazy narrative begins on a night in December when "The Raven" haunts the unnamed narrator who sits reading "forgotten lore" to sublimate the loss of his love, Lenore. A "rapping at his chamber door" reveals nothing, yet excites his soul to "burning". A similar rapping, slightly louder, is heard at his window. When he investigates, a raven enters his chamber. Paying no attention, the raven perches atop a bust of Pallas high above the door. Amused by the raven's comically serious disposition, the man asks that the bird tell him its name. The raven's only answer is "Nevermore". The narrator is surprised that the raven can talk, though at this point it has said nothing further. The narrator remarks to himself that his "friend" will soon fly out of his life, just as "other friends have flown before". The raven responds again with "Nevermore". The narrator reasons that the bird learned the word "Nevermore" from some "unhappy master" and that it is the only word it knows. Regardless, the narrator pulls his chair directly in front of the raven, determined to learn more. He thinks for a moment, and his mind wanders to his lost Lenore. He thinks the air grows denser and feels the presence of angels, and wonders if God is sending him a sign that he is to forget Lenore. The bird again replies in the negative, suggesting that he can never be free of his memories. The narrator becomes angry, calling the raven a "thing of evil". Finally, he asks whether he will be reunited with Lenore in Heaven. When the raven responds with its typical "Nevermore", he is enraged, and, calling it a liar, commands the bird to return to the "Plutonian shore", - but it does not move. The narrator's final admission is that his soul is trapped beneath the raven's shadow and shall be lifted "Nevermore". From the Press of J. J. Little & Co., No. 10-20 Astor Place, New York. 6 1/2" x 8 1/4" dimensions. Insured post.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fair. Illus. by Taylor, W. L.. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" Tall.