inscribed presentation copy of Leaves of Grass
WHITMAN, WALT. Leaves of Grass
Camden, NJ: [for Walt Whitman], 1876
Two engraved portraits of Whitman. Original half cream leather gilt, morocco spine label. Rebacked preserving spine, spine rubbed, darkened, and soiled. The advertisement leaf mounted at the end notes that this book, as well as Two Rivulets, is available directly from Whitman for $5.
Presentation copy of the Author’s Edition, signed on the title-page by Whitman, and further inscribed on the front free endpaper, “Albert D. Shaw from the author.”
The 1876 Author’s edition, sometimes called the Centennial edition, features two portraits of the poet, young and old, and the author’s signature on the title of some copies. The increasingly cash-strapped Whitman published these himself, binding and printing them in different forms to meet demand. This is the final form, one of 600 copies. In December 1881 he observed that he still had 100-200 copies “on hand.”
Whitman sent Shaw this volume, along with Two Rivulets, on April 9, 1881. In adiiton to signing the title page, he inscribed the book to Shaw. He asked Shaw to send the $10 by postal money order “if convenient.” Shaw was U.S. Consul in Manchester, England at this time. He later was commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic and a U.S. Congressman.
A manuscript note on the rear pastedown, presumably in Shaw’s hand, identifies two poems of special interest. Shaw’s bookplate notes that this is vol. 638 in his library.
Myerson A2.5.c2.
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