"HIS RHYTHMIC SONG RINGS FOREVER IN THE AMERICAN AIR": LEAVES OF GRASS, 1876 AUTHOR'S EDITION SIGNED BY WHITMAN
WHITMAN, Walt. Leaves of Grass. Author's Edition, With Portraits from Life. Camden, New Jersey: [no publisher], 1876. Octavo, original three-quarter cream calf expertly rebacked, brown morocco spine label, marbled boards, yellow-coated endpapers.
"Author's Edition," one of 600 copies signed in ink on the title page by Walt Whitman, with two portraits of America's "good gray poet."
"Practically everything that can be said about the significance of [Leaves of Grass] has been said by its author… He was and is the poet and prophet of democracy, and the intoxication of his immense affirmative, the fervor of his 'barbaric yawp,' are so powerful that the echo of his… rhythmic song rings forever in the American air" (Grolier American 100 67). Complete with two portraits (Samuel Hollyer's stipple-engraving of Whitman, inserted after page 28; and W.J. Linton's wood-engraving from G.C. Potter's photograph of Whitman, inserted after page 284). With advertisement inserted following first rear flyleaf, as called for. Myerson A2.5.c2. BAL 21412. Wells & Goldsmith, 20-21. Owner pencil initials and ink owner signature. Ink number. A few pencil annotations to interior.
Paper clip mark to preliminaries including signed title page, occasional foxing and soiling to interior, light rubbing to extremities of binding. A near-fine copy.