Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Va. raising funds to preserve ‘The Raven’ illustrations

RICHMOND, Va. – The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is starting a fundraising effort to preserve illustrations of the American writer’s famous 1845 poem, “The Raven.”

Museum officials hope to raise $60,000 for the nearly 130-year-old illustrations by English street artist James Carling. The 43 works of watercolour and ink bring the haunting lines of the poem to life.

The illustrations are now stacked in a series of worn cardboard boxes. They were glued to cardboard, causing them to darken and deteriorate over the years.

Officials at the museum in Richmond are looking to safeguard the drawings by raising money through the Internet crowdfunding site Kickstarter. If the entire amount isn’t raised by Nov. 15, the museum won’t get any of the money.