Text: Anonymous, “[Review of The Conchologist's First Book],” Alexander's Weekly Messenger (Philadelphia, PA), September 11, 1839, p. 2, col. 4

[page 2, column 4:]

THE CONCHOLOGIST'S FIRST BOOK: A system of Testaceous Malacology, arranged expressly for the use of schools; in which the Animals, according to Cuvier, are given with the shells, a great number of new species added, and the whole brought up, as accurately as possible, to the present condition of the science. By Edgar A. Poe, second edition. With illustrations of 215 shells, presenting a correct type of each genus. Haswell, Barrington and Haswell, Philadelphia.

The first very large edition of this work was exhausted in two months; a fact which speaks strongly in its favor. It has become a text-book in most of the larger Seminaries to the North and East, and is well received every where. It differs from the ordinary small books on the same subject in many essential respects — for example, in particularizing the American species; in the adoption of a modified classification from La Marck and De Blainville; and, especially, in giving a succinct anatomical account of the animal which inhabits each shell — a point never before attended to in a school Conchology. The author's versatile abilities are too well known to the public to need comment from us; he acknowledges his indebtedness, in many respects, to Mr. Isaac Lea of this city. Colored copies of the work, executed under the superintendence of Mr. James Ackerman, are for sale at our principal bookstores.