Slightly smaller, thicker book, dark green cloth, gilt title and authors last name near fine on top front, gilt on spine which has embossed design, 567 lightly browned pages, frontispiece bw photograph of whitman with facsimile autograph note. Make offer lot of 5 modern library books leaves of grass 1950 wh auden maugham faulkner hc. Walt whitman wishes respectfully to notify the public that the book leaves of grass, which he. Walt whitman is perhaps americas most admired poet. Great american poet and humanist walt whitman set a sales record at.
Heiresss first edition copy of walt whitmans leaves of. This resulted in vastly different editions over four decadesthe first, a small book of twelve poems and the last, a compilation. Leaves of grass is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman 18191892. Exactly the value of one and exactly the value of two, and which is ahead. I loafe and invite my soul, i lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass. Walt whitmans personal copy of the 1860 leaves, known as the blue book, with hundreds of whitmans manuscript annotations, revisions, additions.
First published in 1855 and extended by the author over the course of more than three decades, leaves of grass embodies walt whitman s lifetime ambition to create a new voice that could capture the spirit and vibrancy of the young american nation, while celebrating at the same time nature without check with original energy. That sets a record for the highest price for a book by walt whitman. Heiresss first edition copy of walt whitmans leaves of grass sells. For all you rare book collectors and walt whitman fans out there, here a tip. Although the first edition was published in 1855, whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting leaves of grass, revising it multiple times until his death. Among his many books are walt whitman part of oxfords lives and. I ts not the most expensive book ever auctioned, of. Buy leaves of grass special edition by whitman, walt isbn. Leaves of grass was written by walt whitman and was. The first edition one of a print run of only 795 copies that whitman printed in. Leaves of grass walt whitman universal library art nouveau cover grosset dunlap.
June 23, 2014 heiresss first edition copy of walt whitman s leaves of grass sells for record price at christies by claire kelley. Walter scott, 24 warwick lane paternoster row, and newcastleontyne. He produced varied editions of the work ending with the ninth, or deathbed edition, in 18911892. One of the worlds most important books of poetry may never have been published if the poet had not been a printer himself. Full text of mothly index of russian accessions vol 10, no. My tongue, every atom of my blood, formd from this soil, this. Rare walt whitman leaves of grass first edition up for auction. I celebrate myself, and sing myself, and what i assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you. Leaves of grass is a poetry collection by the american poet walt whitman 1819 1892. Walt whitmans first edition leaves of grass bauman. Leaves of grass walt whitman easton press 1st edition full leather 22k gold edge. Lot of 5 modern library books leaves of grass 1950 wh auden maugham faulkner hc.
But the value for leaves of grass topped those books for both. Despite naming the collection leaves of grass, which was a play on the term that publishers used to degrade the value of a written work, the twelve poems contained within this book are timeless classics that can offer thoughtprovoking insights and fresh perspectives to the urbanized soul. What began as a slim book of 12 poems was by the end of his. Grass was a term given by publishers to works of minor value, and leaves is another name for the pages on which they were printed.