Of the twenty fair copy drafts included here, only four appear to be complete—though with neither salutations nor signatures the idea of “completion” loses its relation to “closure.” The remainder of the fair copy manuscripts fall into three broad groups: (1) manuscripts from which an unknown number of leaves are missing; (2) manuscripts cut into squares or rectangles so that floating passages, forever deprived of context, are isolated and preserved; and (3) manuscripts of two or more leaves that have been scissored or torn within the body of the text.

A. Complete manuscripts

            Ned and I were talking . . . (A 736)

            To remind you of my own rapture . . . (A 745)

            What if you are writing! (A 749)

B. Manuscripts with an unknown number of missing leaves

            My lovely Salem smiles at me – (A 734)

            . . . Door either, after you have entered, . . . (A 742)

            His little “Playthings” were very sick . . . (A 744)

C. Single leaves or leaves cut into square panels

            Second of March, and the Crow, . . . (A 132a)

            . . . remained what the Carpenter called the Door . . . (A 738)

            Dont you know you are happiest . . . (A 739)

            I wonder we ever leave the Improbable – (A 746)

            You spoke of “Hope” surpassing “Home” – (A 747)

            The withdrawal of the Fuel of Rapture . . . (A 750)

            Throngs who would not prize them, . . . (A 760)

            Common Sense is almost as omniscient . . . (A 761)

            God cannot [annull] discontinue himself – (A 855)

D. Mutilated manuscripts

            To beg for the Letter . . . (A 737)

            . . . To lie so near your longing – (A 740)

            . . . I know you acutely weary, . . . (A 741)

            The celestial Vacation of writing you . . . (A 748)