Overview
This page presents a public-domain digital facsimile of the 1884 Harper & Brothers edition of The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, illustrated by Gustave Doré. The material is preserved here to provide stable access for reading, research, and citation.
The original source files for this edition were digitized by the Library of Congress and are made available here with clear attribution to the original institution.
For a broader overview of Poe’s life, writings, death, and cultural legacy, see the main reference page:
→ Edgar Allan Poe: Life, Works, Death, Influence & Legacy
Bibliographic Information
Title: The Raven
Author: Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
Illustrator: Gustave Doré
Publisher: Harper & Brothers
Place of Publication: New York
Year: 1884
Language: English
Rights Status: Public domain
Original Digitization Source:
Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division
Item ID: 12037813
About This Edition
First published in 1845, The Raven became one of the most widely recognized poems in American literature. The 1884 Harper & Brothers edition represents a later stage in the poem’s publishing history, reflecting its transition into a canonical literary work frequently issued in illustrated and deluxe formats.
Gustave Doré’s illustrations contributed significantly to the visual identity of the poem in the late nineteenth century, shaping how readers imagined its atmosphere, imagery, and emotional intensity. This edition is presented here as a historical artifact, without interpretation or modernization of the original text.
Digital Files Available
The following files are provided to support different research and access needs. Each format serves a specific purpose.
📄 Searchable PDF (Recommended)
- Complete facsimile of the 1884 edition
- OCR text layer for search and accessibility
- Suitable for reading, citation, and general reference
Note: OCR text is provided for search and accessibility. Page images remain the authoritative reference.
🗂️ Archival TIFF Images
- Lossless, high-resolution preservation file
- Intended for archival use, research, and reproduction
- Large file sizes
Source Attribution
The original scans used for this digital facsimile were produced by the Library of Congress as part of its public-domain collections.
Digitization Credit:
Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division
Files are hosted here to provide stable access and long-term availability for research and educational use.
How to Cite This Resource
A recommended citation format is provided below:
Poe, Edgar Allan. The Raven. Illustrated by Gustave Doré. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1884.
Digital facsimile hosted by Tell Tale Asylum.
Originally digitized by the Library of Congress (Item ID: 12037813).
This citation format is suitable for scholarly writing and reference use.
About This Project
This page represents an early step in an ongoing effort to preserve and make accessible public-domain materials related to Edgar Allan Poe. Additional primary sources and related documents may be added over time as the collection grows.