My research has shown multiple ways where the Zodiac Killer correspondences have references or possible links to Edgar Allan Poe. In “my opinion” Zodiac Killer chose specific stamps, place names, misspellings and words as hints to where to look for the keys to solve his ciphers, codes, and clues. He chose items which could be used in multiple ways and could have multiple sources.

First let’s look at why the Zodiac Killer may have turned to Edgar Allan Poe’s writings to begin with. There was an article written in the newspaper to get Zodiac’s attention that specifically references Edgar Allan Poe.

In the San Francisco Chronicle Newspaper article, Dr. D.C.B. Marsh challenged the Zodiac Killer to write a cipher with his true name using an Edgar Allan Poe quote,…” any cipher devised by man can be solved by man” .

October 22nd, 1969 D.C.B. Marsh Challenge

My theory is after this challenge was published the Zodiac Killer did a lot of research on Edgar Allan Poe, read his stories, connected them with stories , places, words, already in his life and used all of them to give clues to his ciphers and codes.

You can research more about this article and the information on the motivation for the name ciphers here.

For those unfamiliar with Zodiac’s letters and more I have placed a few links you can research first.

If you would like to learn about some of the stamps the Zodiac Killer has used on his letters please check out this link here.

You can also learn about the Zodiac Killers Letters here.

Letter Stamps and Clues

Let’s take a look at some of the stamps Zodiac used on his letters and how they might correlate to Edgar Allan Poe. For photos of the stamps please check out this link here.

Franklin D. Roosevelt stamp used on multiple Zodiac Killer letters

The Zodiac Killer used the Franklin D. Roosevelt Stamps on most of his correspondence of a variety of letters and cards before and after the challenge article by Dr. D.C.B. Marsh.

Franklin D. Roosevelt stamp used on multiple Zodiac Killer letters

The Franklin D. Roosevelt stamp can be linked to Edgar Allan Poe due to an award he received. The “Edgar Allan Poe Raven Award. ” Only two presidents have received this award: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Bill Clinton as shown in this link here.

Edgar Allan Poe Society/Poe House MWA Raven Award November 12, 2008 — New York, NY: Mystery Writers of America (MWA) has chosen the Edgar Allan Poe Society and The Poe House in Baltimore, Maryland, as the 2009 recipients of the organization’s prestigious Raven Award. To be presented at Mystery Writers of America’s 63rd Annual Edgar® Awards Banquet at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City on April 30, 2009, the Raven Award is bestowed by MWA’s Board of Directors for outstanding achievement in the mystery field outside the realm of creative writing. Among past recipients of the award are the Library of Congress, Center for the Book, and two United States Presidents – Bill Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Mystery Fanfare

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Even though he did use these Franklin D. Roosevelt stamps before the challenge, he continued to use the stamps multiple times afterward as well as a variety of other stamps which had a connection to Edgar Allan Poe.

Listed below are some more ways the Zodiac Killer could be linking Edgar Allan Poe to give clues to a way to solve his ciphers.

November 8, 1969 “Dripping Pen” card

The Dripping Pen Card November 8, 1969 included the Z340 Cipher after the challenge from Dr. D.C.B. Marsh. Could the pen image dripping blood on the card be Zodiac’s attempt to reference the poet-writer who was known for poetry about murder and death?

Dripping Pen Card November 8th, 1969

Z340 Cipher November 8th, 1969

December 20, 1969, Thomas Jefferson stamp on Attorney Melvin Belli letter

Could the Thomas Jefferson stamp on the envelope of the December 20, 1970 letter to Attorney Melvin Belli refer to the possible meeting between Jefferson and Poe recorded in history?

Thomas Jefferson Stamp used on envelope addressed to Melvin Belli.

Envelope to Melvin Belli Mery XMass Card December 20, 1969

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American author of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, and one of the earliest students at the University of Virginia. Many have speculated as to whether Edgar Allan Poe ever met Thomas Jefferson. Poe matriculated at the University in February of 1826, five months before Jefferson’s death. Jefferson was in the habit of inviting University students to Monticello, and there is evidence that he was still doing so in the spring of 1826. Mary Jefferson Randolph wrote to her sister Ellen about their grandfather on April 16, 1826: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/edgar-allan-poe

Note: There is a new 2020 play with connections to Thomas Jefferson and Edgar Allan Poe called, “Monticello” A Play in Two Parts”.

Monticello A Play in Two Parts

Monticello A Play in Two Parts August 4th through September 3rd St. Bonaventure Oratory 1625 Diversey Parkway, Chicago Did Jefferson and Poe Collaborate in 1826? Third Coast Review takes a look at Monticello What if Edgar Allen Poe, a new student and earnest young writer at the University of Virginia, went to Monticello in July 1826 to help Thomas Jefferson with an important task. It could have happened, says playwright Thomas Geoghegan, who conjures this event in his play Monticello, directed by Anthony Irons. The two-act play, staged in a Lakeview church basement, speculates on what might have happened. Marty Lodge plays the former president, who has suffered a stroke but is able to converse in French. His estate Monticello is deep in debt and his daughter Martha (Lori McClain) is afraid the family will lose the property. Since the approaching July 4 will be the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson is expected to issue a statement confirming his masterpiece of revolutionary writing. Monticello A Play Two Parts

December 20, 1969, XMass Letter letter sent to Melvin Belli

December 20, 1969 XMass letter sent to Melvin Belli

“Twas the Night Before Christmas by C. Moore and Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allen Poe wrote a dark theme, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and C. Moore wrote music to accompany the poem.

Lady Lenore which is mentioned in this You Tube video is also mentioned in the Poem “Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.

Below is some more thoughts on XMass.

The word “Mass” is strictly a Catholic word and thus, so is “Christ–Mass.” “Mass” in religious usage means a “death sacrifice.” In essence, the Mass is the ceremonial slaying of Jesus Christ over and over again, followed by the eating of his flesh and the drinking of his blood. As previously stated, the word “Mass” in religious usage means a “death sacrifice.” The impact of this fact is horrifying and shocking; for when the millions of people are saying, “Merry Christmas”, they are literally saying “Merry death of Christ!” Quora.com

Does the word mass in Christmas means death as per Roman Catholics

Could Zodiac by choosing the word X Mass also be referring to his mass killings?

A mass killing, as defined by a genocide scholar Ervin Staub, is “killing members of a group without the intention to eliminate the whole group or killing large numbers of people without a precise definition of group membership” Wikipedia

Mass Killing

July 13, 1971, “Near Monticello” Card

Could the Zodiac Killer unconfirmed July 13, 1971 Zodiac Killer card which mentions Monticello also be another reference to Edgar Allan Poe?

THE MEANING BEHIND THE MONTICELLO CARD – JULY 13TH 1971 12/6/2018 On July 13th 1971 a pasted card was mailed to the San Francisco Chronicle with the words “Near Monticello Shought Victims 21 …… In The Woods Dies April”. Many have speculated on the location mentioned in the card as “Monticello” in Napa County, California, because of the Lake Berryessa attack on Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard on September 27th 1969. Zodiaccipers.com

The meaning. Behind the Monticello Card

April 20, 1970, Z-13 cipher and Bomb letter.

Z-13 “My name is…”, cipher letter.

Z-13 “My name is…”, cipher letter. Edgar Allan Poe has 13 letters in his name and described ciphers using 13 letters from A-M and N-Z. The Zodiac sign could represent a Z as well as the what appears to be three circled (8)s or Zodiac Taurus signs. Note: Z also appears like a sideways N

Zodiac Killer’s My Name Z-13 Cipher

“A few Words on Secret Writing” by Edgar Allan Poe essay is about ciphers and how some one could devise one.

October 5, 1970 “My Name Is…” Cipher and Bomb Letter

Page 1 of 2 of “My Name is…” Cipher letter 10/05/1970

Page 1 of 2 of “My Name Is ….”Cipher letter 10/05/1970

Kid misspelled as CID

Included in the “My Name Is…” cipher letter was a bomb diagram with the use of the word “Cid” for the word Kid. When researching Cid. I came upon this encyclopedia listing. Notice where the words of Edgar Allan Poe’s story”, The Gold Bug“, and word Cid are placed. Could the Zodiac Killer be using “Cid” to reference “The Gold Bug” prose and to Captain Kid mentioned in the story.

The Encyclopedia of America vol 22, pg 273

Some other references not explored for Cid is a theater in Los Angeles.

On December 7th, 1962, Flamenco dancers Juan Talavera and Margarita Cordova, along with her husband Clark Allen, opened the venue as El Cid. The three wanted to open their own Flamenco hub after working at the Purple Onion for the past six years and decided to remodel the building in the style of a 16th-century Spanish tavern. Talavera described the vibe they were going for as “Spanish, but not just American trying to be Spanish.” Elcidsunst.com

Our Story

“CID” Center for Independent Documentary also has a recent Edgar Allan Poe documentary. “Edgar Allen Poe: Buried Alive”

Other interesting stuff I found is there is a band called Poe the Passenger who recently played at El Cid

CID presents “Edgar Allen Poe Buried Alive!

A 1961 El Cid motion picture starring Charlton Heston.

1961 “ El Cid “ movie. Here is a link to an YouTube trailer on it.

April 28, 1970, “Dragon” card

Dragon card with two Franklin D. Roosevelt stamps.

Zodiac Killer Dragon Card April 28, 1970

In the link to posts below, there is a reference to the Dragon card representing the novel, ” Don Quixote,” by Miquel de Cervantes Saavedra. “Eldorado” by Edgar Allan Poe was based on “Don Quixote”. Could the Zodiac Killer again be referencing Edgar Allan Poe?

Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe

Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe This poem relates to “Don Quixote” written in 1605 by Miguel de Cervantes. He was lost in a dream world, roaming through the land, fighting against windmills and imagining battles on his conquest. A point of interest is Edgar Allan Poe has never been to Eldorado. Though the message is clinical, there is a sense of inward reflection. The surface story is easy enough. A deluded man is in search of something he cannot obtain until old age. He imagines a shadow speaking to him, since he has gone insane. Underneath this we see a person trying to create their fortune, only to grow old. They never fulfill dreams or aspirations. The shadow represents nearing death. Yet the man struggles while keeping hope. The shadow tells him, Eldorado will be reached in the afterlife. Often people live in hope of a rewarding afterlife. And, as his strength

Failed him at length,

He met a pilgrim shadow –

“Shadow,” said he,

“Where can it be –

This land of Eldorado? Poetry Breakdown

Monday, Sept 29, 2008

“Melvin Eats Blubber” in the “Dragon” card

Letter mailed inside of the Dragon Card

Zodiac Killer’s mention of the, “Melvin eats bluber buttons,” included in this card could be a reference to Edgar Allan Poe. During this time period there was a popular, 1960 ‘s hippie counter culture slogan “Melville Eats Blubber” pinback buttons referred to Herman Melville’s book, ” Moby Dick.”

Actual buttons at this time in history say, “Herman Melville Eats Blubber”.

Power of Blackness Published 1958

“Jolly Rodgers” Pirate icon on the “Dragon” card

Finally we have the “Jolly Rodgers” Pirate icon on the card. Edgar Allan Poe was renowned for “The Gold Bug” story about pirates.

Note: My belief is he used these clues to be used in multiple ways and not only was referencing Edgar Allan Poe but also Jack Calico.

June 26, 1970 Phillips 66 Map

Phillips 66 Map sent by Zodiac Killer

Zodiac Killer sent a Phillips 66 Map of California Bay area with his Zodiac sign on El Diablo Mountain and the Bomb letter. Could the choice of a Phillips 66 map be a reference to Edgar Allan Poe being originally buried as Phillip, Poe the Man.

Edgar Allan Poe buried as Phillips, Poe the Man

October 27, 1970 Apollo 8 stamp on the “Halloween” Card

1969 Apollo 8 six cents stamp on “Halloween” card envelope

1969 Apollo 8 six cents stamp on “Halloween” card envelope

”In the Beginning God…” Apollo 8 stamp on the Paul Avery Halloween card envelope could reference the Edgar Allan Poe story “Eureka” which means and is about creation.

Zodiac Killer’s halloween-card

Wikipedia “Eureka: a Prose Poem”

Apollo 8 could be drawing attention to what appears to be circled (8)s or the (3) Zodiac Taurus signs on the Z-13 “My name is…”, Cipher letter.

March 22, 1971 Abraham Lincoln on the “Sierra” Card

March 22, 1971 Abraham Lincoln on the “Sierra” Card

Abraham Lincoln 1962 Post Card 4 cents on the “Sierra” Card

History of the Abraham Lincoln Stamp. Here

Could this be another reference as it is written in history how Abraham Lincoln was influenced and used quotes from “Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe?

Lincoln was born only a few weeks after Poe. The author came to his attention through one of the numerous parodies of “The Raven,” first published in January 1845. Johnston, a fellow lawyer, sent Lincoln one such parody, “The Pole-Cat,” which led him to seek out Poe’s poem. It is said that Lincoln so appreciated the poem that he “carried Poe around on the Circuit—read and loved ‘The Raven’—repeated it over & over.” This letter—written before Lincoln became familiar with Poe’s work— includes a poem occasioned by a return home in 1844 that “aroused feelings in [him] which were extremely poetic.” Redolent of the dark melancholy that suffuses the work of his noted contemporary, its final lines read: And feel (companion of the dead) / I’m living in the tombs. Abrahamlincoln.org

Lincoln Edgar Allan Poe

Abrahamlincoln.org

Lincoln Edgar Allan Poe

February 2, 1973 “Message in a Bottle” Letter

The unconfirmed Zodiac Killer message sent in a bottle was dated February 2, 1973, and found in Stockton three months later May 11, 1973, at Paradise Point.

ZodiacKillerSite.com Zodiac Message in a Bottle

Could this be a reference to Edgar Allan Poe’s story, “Manuscript Found in a Bottle” ?

February 14, 1974 Dwight Eisenhower Stamp on the “SLA” letter

Dwight Eisenhower 1970 stamp 8 cent

Dwight David Eisenhower stamp on the SLA letter Dwight’s older brother Edgar was named after Edward Allan Poe.

May 8, 1974 Samuel Adams stamp on the “Citizen” card

1974 Samuel Adams postcard

Samuel Adams stamp on the unconfirmed Zodiac Killer Citizen Card. Samuel Adams and Edgar Allan Poe were both born in Boston and he based the 1844 story “ The Oblong Box” on the murder of Samuel Adams. A movie based on the short story came out starring Vincent Price in 1969.

Samuel Adams Post Card used on Citizen Card

The oblong box (trailer) 1969 you tube link

1969 “Oblong Box” by Poe inspired by Samuel Adam’s death (trailer)

The “Oblong Box” Written by Poe

Note: Samuel Adams married Martha Wayles SKELETON. Reminds me of the Halloween Card sent by the Zodiac Killer and the Prose by Edgar Allan Poe the “Gold Bug”.

“The Oblong Box” was in part based on the murder of Samuel Adams by John C. Colt, brother of Sam Colt, a story which dominated the New York press at the time;[4][5][6] John C. Colt disposed of Adams’ body by putting it in a crate and filling it with salt.[7] The name of the character Wyatt was likely derived from Professor Thomas Wyatt, an author whose work Poe translated in The Conchologist’s First Book. Wikipedia

The Oblong Box

October 12, 1970 addressed to Dr. Edward C. Adams

October 12, 1970 Citizen Card

Could the unconfirmed letter dated October 12th, 1970 addressed to Dr. Edward C. Adams with the use of the Statue of Liberty stamp refer again to Edgar Allan Poe’s story about Samuel Adams?

July 8th 1974 Goya Stamp on “Red Phantom” letter

1974 Goya 10 cent stamp

The Goya stamp on the unconfirmed Zodiac “Red Phantom” letter could be another reference to Edgar Allan Poe? Goya’s prints were used to illustrated Edgar Allan Poe’s book, “The death of the Red Mask!” Could the Red Mask on the skeleton in the Zodiac Killer’s Halloween Card sent to Paul Avery on October 27, 1970, refer to Edgar Allan Poe’s story and illustrations of Goya, “Los Disparates” Meets “The Mask of the Red Death” in Kalamazoo”?

September 25, 1990 Marianne Moore on the “Celebrity Cypher” card

1990 Marianne Moore 25 cent stamp

Marianne Moore stamp on the unconfirmed Zodiac Killer letter, ” Celebrity Cypher”, card could be a link to Edgar Allan Poe as they were linked together repeatedly throughout the time period. They were both writing poetry and proses. Marianne Moore was known for her freeform and imagery poems. See the links below for more information. Notice the Three American Poets was printed in 1977. The letter with the stamp on it was sent in 1990.

Franklin-Library-Three American Poets: Crane, Moore, Poe Edgar Allan Poe, Marianne Moore& Crane 1977 book collection Illustrator: Alan E. Cober

December 1990, “Eureka” envelope

Unconfirmed Zodiac Killer 1990 Christmas Card from Eureka

Zodiac Killer 1990 Christmas Card from Eureka, CA

Could this be referencing Edgar Allan Poe’s prose, “Eureka“. Could the tree stamp on the card envelope from Eureka, CA.be a reference to climbing of the tree to find the treasure in Edgar Allan Poe’s story “ The Gold Bug”? Included in the card is a Xerox copy of a set of keys attached to a penlight.

Xerox copy of a Keys and attached penlight sent in the Christmas card from Eureka.

Xerox copy of a Keys and attached penlight sent in the Christmas card from Eureka.

Xerox copy of Keys sent in the “Eureka Christmas” card

Lower part of Penlight could be the letters “BUG” and an Icon of a beetle in reference to the “Gold Bug”

(2 keys, penlight, the word Bug visible on penlight)

(2 skeletons, campfire to solve cypher, beetle or bug)

October 30, 2016, and September 29, 2019 BalloonCaptain66

“Balloon Hoax” by Edgar Allan Poe

Though these posts have not been connected to the Zodiac Killer, I found some interesting connections to Edgar Allan Poe.

Recent posts by BalloonCaptain66 (2016 St. Patrick’s card and 2019 Burger Chef ad Posts ) could be be a reference to the “ Balloon Hoax” by Edgar Allan Poe.

(TFG) (B) (Ballooncaptain66)

The St Patrick’s card and Burger Chef are both signed TFGB on the Burger Chef ad it is in lower right hand corner. Posts sent by BalloonCaptain66 (TFG) (B) (Ballooncaptain66 ).

2019 Burger Chef ad

TFGB is also found on the Halloween Card on the same line.

Zodiackillerrevealed.com

zodiac-killer-may-have-used-edgar-allan-poes-story-the-gold-bug-to-create-some-of-his-cipher-codes

Zodiackillerrevealed.com

zodiac-killer-may-have-used-edgar-allan-poes-story-the-gold-bug-to-create-some-of-his-cipher-codes

Connections

Rosicrucian Fellowship may be linked to the Zodiac Killer according to some posters. Edgar Allan Poe is mentioned in the:

“The Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians: Illustrated with the Secret Rosicrucian Symbols” by Marcus Icognito, written 1918, “

“The Rosicrucians, Their Rites and Mysteries with Chapters on the Ancient Fire- and Serpent-worshippers, and Explanations of the Mystic Symbols Represented in the Monuments and Talismans of the Primeval Philosophers” by Hargrave Jennings, written 1879,

“Rosicrucian Brotherhood” S. C. Gould, written 1907. Edgar Allan Poe is theorized to have connections to the Rosicrucian Fellowship.

Zodiac Killer seems to use written and visual clues that could be connected to multiple persons, things and places. Edgar Allan Poe is just one of the connections Zodiac Killer could of used.

There are probably more connections Zodiac Killer used to reference Edgar Allan Poe than linked in this blog. Please let me know if you have found any in your research.