Books

DEATHBED EDITION; cloth-bound, hardcover, octavo (22cm x 14cm x 4cm), pp. 438. English text. Bound in publisher's original green cloth with gilt spine titles, top page edges gilt, rough cut fore edge and bottom edge, portrait on page pg.29 with intact tissue guard, facsimile of Walt Whitman's signature. Condition: VERY GOOD. Binding tight, secure and square, with the joints and hinges intact. Slight bumping to spine ends and points. Browning to pp.2-3 where an insert was left, the interior otherwise very well-preserved. Ex-libris bookplate to front pastedown belonging to Mary Crosbie D'Oyley. Notes: Walt Whitman: Leaves of Grass, Deathbed Edition 1891-92, created from the 1888 sheets, two annexes added with the Market Street address on the publisher imprint. Published by David McKay, Philadelphia, copyrighted in 1891, published in 1892. Whitman's final arrangement of his magnum opus Leaves of Grass including Sands at Seventy, 1st Annex, Goodbye My Fancy, 2nd Annex, and A Backward Glance O'Er Travel'D Roads, and Portrait from Life. The complete edition with Whitman's last entries of 1891 and facsimile of Walt Whitman s signature. BAL 21441: Printing 2, Binding C. (No cancels. Author's name in facsimile autograph on spine). known as the Deathbed Edition, because Whitman's impending death forced him to create copies of his final edition of Leaves of Grass from the 1888 sheets with cancel title and contents leaves and with the annexes added. This edition contains the final revisions of Whitman s body of poems. He died just before the release of the first issue in 1892, and it has become the format for all further publications since. Rare.

"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman, first self-published in 1855 and revised and expanded in subsequent editions throughout Whitman's life, is a groundbreaking collection of poems that revolutionized American poetry and literary form. At its core, "Leaves of Grass" is a celebration of life, individuality, democracy, and the vastness of the American experience. Comprised of numerous poems, including the iconic "Song of Myself," this collection embodies Whitman's belief in the essential unity of all things and his celebration of the human body and spirit. Whitman's poetry rejects traditional rhyme and meter, opting instead for free verse and a more colloquial, conversational style. His lines often have a musical, rhythmic quality that reflects the ebbs and flows of life itself. The collection is a reflection of Whitman's exuberance for life, exploring themes of nature, love, spirituality, and the human condition. "Song of Myself," perhaps the most famous poem within "Leaves of Grass," is an expansive and inclusive work that encapsulates Whitman's philosophy of the interconnectedness of all people and the celebration of individual identity. It embraces the diversity of America, celebrating people from all walks of life, backgrounds, and experiences. Throughout the collection, Whitman embraces the body and soul, viewing them as interconnected and essential parts of humanity. He celebrates the physical world, the senses, and the human form without reservation, emphasizing the beauty and significance of each individual. Moreover, "Leaves of Grass" evolves over time, with Whitman adding new poems and revising existing ones in later editions. The work serves as a testament to Whitman's evolving perspectives on life, society, and the human experience. Whitman's bold and unapologetic portrayal of the self and the world marked a departure from conventional poetry of his time. His work was controversial for its explicitness and its celebration of the human body and sexuality. However, it also heralded a new era in American literature, influencing generations of poets and writers and leaving a lasting impact on the trajectory of poetic expression and American identity. Through "Leaves of Grass," Whitman aimed to capture the essence of America and the spirit of its people in all their complexity and diversity.