Poe, Edgar Allan.

8vo (189 x 127mm.), first edition, first printing, with Ludwig's imprint on the copyright page, first issue, with the New York imprint. initial blank, half-title, publisher's advertisements ([4], [4], xii pages at end, publisher's printed wrappers, red morocco gilt slipcase, brown buckram chemise, scattered foxing, slightly stained, spine split, split on upper cover near spine skillfully repaired, corners chipped

Edward Hubert Litchfield, armorial bookplate and description from Philadelphia dealer Charles Sessler laid in, his sale, Sotheby's-Parke-Bernet, 1951, lot 745; H. Bradley Martin, bookplate, his sale ("Highly Important American and Children's Literature"), Sotheby's New York, 30 January 1990, lot 2210

BAL 16146; Grolier American 55; Heartman and Canny (1943) 90-97; NYPL/Gordan 485; Queen's Quorum 1; Yale/Gimbel 61

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

"The tale proper, in my opinion, affords unquestionably the fairest field for the exercise of the loftiest talent." (Poe to Hawthorne)

"Here ... begins the detective story, with 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue', 'The Mystery of Marie Roget', and primus inter pares, the character of the amateur detective who triumphs over the blundering police, in 'The Purloined Letter'. The earlier Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque... contains a larger number of the Poe tales of horror, which are still the artistic standard for that school, but this volume adds... 'The Descent into the Maelstrom' and 'The Gold Bug'" (Grolier American).  

"...the first important book of detective stories, the first and greatest, the cornerstone of cornerstones...the highest of all high spots...contains for the first time in book form all three Dupin stories." Queen's Quorum 1

While the tales herein were not selected by Poe (and he expressed reservations about the editor "whose taste does not coincide with my own") they are in the end perhaps the single best representation of his broad range and lasting influence.  The 1845 Tales contains not only the invention of modern detective fiction, but also his supreme handling of pyschological horror, and contributions to both science fiction and the adventure story.

Very rare, one of only perhaps 6 copies found in the full original wrappers.