Books

Washington DC, 1872. 4 7/8 x 8 1/4. Original publisher's smooth dark green cloth, gilt lettering on cover, original gray endpapers. Most likely a Presentation Binding, given to Will Innes (who obtained many directly inscribed from Whitman), and this binding size seems to differ very slightly from published records. Written on front free fly: "Will Innes' copy which he gave to Gertrude Traubel, Sunday, December 17- 1967-" Gertrude received a very large of inscribed copies directly from Innes on or about this date, in 1967, most bearing presentation inscriptions to Innes directly from Traubel, Whitman's close friend and secretary, handling most of his affairs especially late in life. From Ed Folsom, noted Whitman scholar: ìOne of the oddest of Whitman's books, this little gathering of poems emerged from his desire to "print my College Poem in a small book." The "College Poem" is "As a Strong Bird" (later titled "Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood"), which Whitman recited at…

As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free is a collection of verses that Walt Whitman wrote for the 1872 opening of the American Institute of Arts and Letters. It consists of various poems that reflect Whitman's unique free verse style and his themes of democracy, freedom, and individualism.