The "Ultima Thule" daguerreotype of Edgar Allan Poe by Edwin H. Manchester, 1848. Location of original not known. Reproduced from a copy daguerreotype , ca. 1860. Archives, the American Antiquarian Society. and could be discounted, as Poe, quickly. The Academician's similarity to Poe warranted further scrutiny. Griswold's face was analyzed along with Poe's as a guard against a false ID. His portrait was chosen because it appears similar to Poe's (especially with a cap in place, as in Figure 1), but we can be confident that Griswold was not in Figure 1 because he showed no interest in daguerreotypy and had no prominent relationships with the science-minded. Therefore , our technique should not identify him strongly or even tentatively as the Academician. Griswold's portrait analysis would make sure the technique could not be fooled easily by faces that appear similar. If the Academician matched the "McKee" Poe in a large number of traits and both matched Griswold in very few, the analysis would suggest Poe as the Academician. Anything else would result in negative identification. Each feature was analyzed as follows: (1) Eyebrow thickness and shape-The eyebrows of the Academician match Poe's in shape. The eyebrows of the Academician are heavy, full arches, and slightly thicker toward the outside, as are Poe's. Griswold's eyebrows are not fully arched, are thin overall, and are thicker toward the inside. The slightly different positions of the eyebrows are reconciled by noting that in the McKee sitting Poe was apparently under some strain,120 clinching his eyebrows closer than usual. (2) Ear shape-The general shape of the Academician 's ear and lobe, along with the triangular "dent" of the canal inside, match Poe. Griswold cannot be compared, because in his portrait his ears are covered by hair (a factor that can be changed, but should still be considered). The lower part of Griswold's ear matches so far as detail can specify. (3) Nose-to-upper-lip ratio-This factor, often used in forensic study because it is generally unchangeable by age, could not be determined on the Academician due to a lack of detail. The Academician's lips are vaguely shaped, making the upper-lip distance uncertain. Since the upper-lip distance is small, the uncertainty invalidates the ratio. (4) Facial lines-The strain Poe was under during the McKee sitting makes lines on his face prominent. Although the graininess of the magnified daguerreotype blurs the Academician's features, and the man is under less strain, there is a small dark spot which may correspond to the cleft or line in the middle of Poe's forehead. More obviously, there are two lines tracing diagonally from the sides of his nose, which match prominent lines on Poe's face. Griswold's face shows two faint lines in the same general location, but they are angled at about 45 degrees from the line of the nose, while the lines of the Academician and Poe are angled at about 30 degrees. (5) Shape of cheekbone-No prominent cheekbone shows on the Academician, where the cheek appears to run smoothly to the jaw. This is the pattern seen with Poe, but not with Griswold . Griswold's portrait shows a distinct dip to his cheek, on both sides of his face. (6) Shape of forehead-Both Griswold and Poe appear to have prominently rounded temples . Light is reflecting off the Academician's forehead, on his temple to our left, matching this roundness. (7) Hair patterns-The backs of men's hairstyles were often merely trimmed, and rarely