Leaves of Grass , 1881 - 1882

Scope and content:

Description from Frey: Printer's copy for portions of the 1881-1882 edition of Leaves of Grass; autograph manuscript and printed pages, with numerous manuscript corrections, additions, and instructions to the printer. The pages are numbered in Whitman's hand: 2-18, 34-100, 101-123, 215-223, 228-237, 245-263, 264-268, 369-387, 388-438, 473-479, 480-493, 502-529. Twelve volumes, octavo, half and full morocco. These volumes contain copy for the following sections or poems: 1. Inscriptions (the poem "Thou, Reader" is in manuscript). 2. Song of Myself. 3. Children of Adam. 4. Song of the Exposition. 5. A Song for Occupations. 6. Birds of Passage. 7. A Broadway Pageant. 8. By Blue Ontario's Shore. 9. Autumn Rivulets (the first three stanzas of "As Consequent, Etc." and the entire poem "The Prairie States" are in manuscript). 10. To Think of Time. 11. Whispers of Heavenly Death. 12. From Noon to Starry Night (lacks: "Spirit That Form'd This Scene" and "A Clear Midnight"). Additional material has been inserted in the second volume, as follows: (1) The Hollyer engraving, inscribed by Whitman. (2) An autograph manuscript, written in pencil on one sheet of ruled paper, about 4x8 inches. Recto: "myself to celebrate"; nine verses, much revised. Verso: "I do not pretend [to] compose a grand opera"; thirteen lines, extensively revised. An early draft of the opening of "Song of Myself" (Inclusive Edition, pages 553-554) and a prose fragment in which Whitman discusses his poetic purpose (Camden Edition, vi, 43). (3) A review of Leaves of Grass, 1855, clipped from the National Intelligencer. (4) A lock of Whitman's hair, enclosed in a wrapper inscribed by R. M. Bucke. The text of "Song of the Exposition," clipped from the New York Evening Post, September 7, 1871, has been mounted in the fourth volume.

Physical location:
Former location: I-1

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Collection is open for research.

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