Description:

WALT WHITMAN
(1819 - 1892) American poet whose volume of verse Leaves of Grass was initially rejected by the public and cost him his job in the federal government. It was only in his later years that his genius became recognized worldwide. Rare A.L.S. 2pp. 4to., Camden, May 5, 1876 to an unidentified ‘friend'. In part: ‘…Nothing very notable to write about, but I thought I would lend you a line – This is one of my comfortable days – good nights sleep last night – breakfast & dinner to-day with appetite – still got out a little most every day as formerly – my book business - & a little writing & reading give me three hours or so occupation (lazily) every day when I am not ill – and then the baby, my brother's 6 mos. infant boy, very fine…is an unfailing delight & diversion to me - the young one knows me so well, & is never so happy as when I am tending him…' He then mentions having adopted his friend's ‘suggestion' of writing certain individuals, clearly offering a work for sale. This would certainly be the centennial edition of his ‘Leaves of Grass' . Ten people are mentioned, including James Russell Young, Joaquin Miller, David Jardine, and others, and he has met only limited success. He closes asking what ‘vile' paragraph his friend was referring to having been published in ‘The Graphic' and sending his regards to ‘Mrs. Smith'. Slightly toned with a few trivial marginal chips, a fold split archivally repaired, very good. Whitman may well have been writing to Robert Pearsall Smith, a minister and writer who befriended Whitman, and the brother of Mary Whitall Smith Costelloe, one of Whitman's most avid followers. Whitman was personally involved in the printing of the Centennial edition. He made a number of innovations in this printing, both by splitting off previously annexed and new material into a companion volume, 'Two Rivulets', and through alterations in the title page and intercalations in the text.

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December 6, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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