The Conchologist's First Book

infobox Book |
name = The Conchologist's First Book
title_orig = The Conchologist's First Book; Or, A System of Testaceous Malacology
translator =


image_caption = Facsimile of the first edition.
author = Edgar Allan Poe
cover_artist =
country = flagicon|USA United States
language = English
series =
genre = Scientific textbook
publisher = Haswell, Barrington, and Haswell
release_date = 1839
media_type = Print
pages =
isbn =
preceded_by =
followed_by =

"The Conchologist's First Book" (sometimes subtitled with "Or, A System of Testaceous Malacology") is an illustrated textbook on conchology issued in 1839, 1840, and 1845. Though the book was printed under Edgar Allan Poe's name, the actual author was Thomas Wyatt, an English author and lecturer.Sova, Dawn B. "Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z". New York City: Checkmark Books, 2001. p. 200 ISBN 081604161X]

Background

Poe originally wrote just the preface and introduction but, for $50, Poe lent his name as author of the entire book, published in Philadelphia by Haswell, Barrington, and Haswell. It is believed that the odd arrangement was to avoid copyright problems with the original edition of Wyatt's book, "Manual of Conchology", previously published by Harper & Brothers. Wyatt's book contained multiple illustrations of shells and carried the cover price of $8, a price too high for both beginners and advanced students of conchology. Wyatt intended a cheaper, concise edition to be used in schools with a price of $1.50. Harper's, however, did not want to produce a second edition that would compete with sales of the first.Meyers, Jeffrey. "Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy". New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. p. 106 ISBN 0815410387] Wyatt had said, "Poe needed money very sorely at the time," and so Poe allowed the use of his name to popularize the book. [Silverman, Kenneth. "Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance". New York City: Harper Perennial, 1991. p. 138 ISBN 0060923318]

The new edition, slightly revised and less expensive, sold out within two months and was used in schools as had been hoped, though Poe received no royalties for its sales. It was the only volume by Poe to go into a second edition in the United States during his lifetime. [Quinn, Arthur Hobson. "Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography". Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. p. 277. ISBN 0801857309] The edition, nonetheless, caused some criticism in later years not only of copyright problems but of plagiarism. [Silverman, Kenneth. "Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance". New York City: Harper Perennial, 1991. p. 334-5 ISBN 0060923318] In 1844, Poe tried to publish more of his work with Harper's (which had also printed his novel "The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket") but was informed by a friend, "They have "complaints" against you... grounded on certain movements of yours." [Meyers, Jeffrey. "Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Legacy". New York City: Cooper Square Press, 1992. p. 107 ISBN 0815410387]

Poe himself explained the book:

I wrote it in conjunction with Professor Thomas Wyatt, and Professor McMultrie... my name being put to the work, as best known and most likely to aid its circulation. I wrote the Preface and Introduction, and translated from Culver, the accounts of the animals, etc. "All" School-books are necessarily made in a similar way." [Quinn, Arthur Hobson. "Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography". Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998. p. 275-7. ISBN 0801857309]

Wyatt's book, in turn, took much material from British naturalist Thomas Brown without attribution. Brown's book, "The Conchologist's Textbook", had been published in Glasgow, Scotland in 1837. [Sova, Dawn B. "Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z". New York City: Checkmark Books, 2001. p. 200-1 ISBN 081604161X]

References

External links

* [http://www.eapoe.org/works/editions/conch.htm Introduction to "The Conchologist's First Book" at the E. A. Poe Society]