New York .Feb. 28, 1837. .Gentlmen,Your letter of Janry 30 had but just reached me — having been forwarded from Richmond to this city.
It would give me the greatest pleasure to aid you in your design of a "Baltimore Book", and I would be quite willing to forward an article by the 1rst April, if so late a period would answer. I am afraid my other engagements would not admit of my sending any thing at an earlier date.
I would like to be informed (by return of mail if possible) what number of pages will be open for me — also what will be the form &c of the book, and should like some hint of the nature of the article or articles desired, with any other particulars. In the meantime I will prepare something in case the theme should be left to my own choice.
Very resply .Gentlemen, .Yr. ob. st. .Edgar A. Poe. .Mess: {
W. H. Carpenter {
J. S. Norris {
James Burns {
[On the manuscript, the list of names at the bottom left corner of the page are marked by a single, large gull bracket, pointing from the "Very resp . . . Poe," and appearing on the same line as these.]
[As for the majority of Poe's letters, the page is folded to form its own envelope. The reverse of the page is addressed: "For. [/] Messrs. [/] W. Henry Carpenter [/] J. S. Norris [/] James Burns [/] care of Messrs. Bayly & Burns [/] Booksellers 132 Market St [/] Baltimore [/] Md". The postmark appears over part of the address.]
[The version of this letter printed in Ostrom's edition was made without direct knowledge of the manuscript. The manuscript is not located, but a photocopy is preserved in the Mabbott collection at the University of Iowa. The version of the text given here is based on that photocopy. Ostrom's version has a different saluation, omits the first sentence and contains minor variations in punctuation. Ostrom also incorrectly reads "Burns" as "Brown."]
[The Baltimore Book for 1838, published towards the end of 1837, includes Poe's tale "Siope — a Fable."]
[S:1 - MS (photocopy)]