Description:

Edgar Allen Poe
New York, NY, ca. 1861
Edgar Allen Poe CDV by Brady, Incredibly Rare, Possibly Unique in Format!
CDV

Exceptionally rare, possibly unique, carte-de-visite (CDV) portrait of Edgar Allan Poe, from the famed work of Mathew B. Brady, the most prominent American photographer of the 19th century. Below the image, within the photographic plate, are the printed inscriptions: "Brady," "N.Y.," and "Edgar A. Poe," in delicate script. Along the lower edge of the mount is the imprint: "Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1861, by M.B. Brady, in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the U.S. for the So. District of New-York." The reverse of the mount is printed with ornate typography and an engraved illustration of the multi-story E. Anthony studio located at 501 Broadway, New York, and includes the publishing line: "From Photographic Negative in Brady's National Portrait Gallery." There are minor signs of wear, but overall the piece remains well-preserved, with its original mount and rich tonality. The CDV measures 2.5" x 4".

University Archives has only handled one Poe CDV in our company's history. In 2017, we sold an inferior copy with much duller tones and visible wear that realized $4,375.

This photographic artifact, produced by Mathew Brady, who included it in his National Portrait Gallery series, holds immense historical and cultural value. In fact, it is one of the only images ever taken of Poe! Although Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849) died more than a decade before the advent of widespread commercial photography, his fame only grew posthumously. This CDV produced by Brady's studio, through publisher E. Anthony, played a key role in preserving and circulating photographic likenesses of American icons like Poe from the Civil War era. The production of this CDV not only served to satisfy a growing Victorian appetite for collecting celebrity and literary portraits, but also contributed to the emerging visual legacy of one of America's most enigmatic literary figures. Poe, famed for The Raven, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher, was already a mythic figure by the early 1860s, with his tragic death and gothic writings capturing the public imagination to this day.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 2.5" x 4".
  • Medium: CDV

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November 19, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000