The Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, Illustrated by Rockwell Kent, Easton Press Collector’s Edition, 1977

Whitman, Walt. The Leaves of Grass. Norwalk: Easton Press, 1977. The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written. Collector's Edition. Illustrations by Rockwell Kent. Bound in original full green leather, stamped with gilt to front and back boards, with raised bands and gilt titles and tooling on the spine, orange silk endpaper, and all edges gilt. 

Presented is the Easton Press Collector’s Edition of The Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman. This beautiful “Collector’s Edition” was part of Easton Press’ collection of “The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written.” The book was published in 1977 with illustrations by Rockwell Kent. It is sumptuously bound in full green leather boards, with gilt titles and gilt tooling, raised bands, all edges gilt, orange silk endpapers, and a gold silk bookmark. 

The first edition of Leaves of Grass, self-published by Whitman on July 4, 1855, contained only twelve poems, together with a long preface.  From 1865 to 1892, eight further editions were published under Whitman’s supervision, each incorporating revisions and additional poems. Leaves of Grass grew across the span of Whitman’s life; the last edition boasted more than 400 poems. In 1881, the permanent order of poems was established, with the seventh edition. Later, a standard text of Leaves of Grass was prepared by Whitman’s executors for the ten-volume edition in 1902. Rockwell Kent’s illustrations were initially made for an edition published in 1937, reprinted in 1965. This present 1977 edition was published by advance reservation, exclusively for subscribers to the Easton Press Collection of "The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written." The frontispiece portrait of Walt Whitman by Robert Shore was specially commissioned for this edition. 

Through his poetry, Whitman sought to capture the essence of American life and identity, showcasing the beauty and complexity of both nature and humanity. Nicknamed the “father of free verse,” Whitman broke away from traditional poetry forms, favoring long lines and a candid style that mirrors the natural rhythms of speech. Whitman was “influenced by the long cadences and rhetorical strategies of Biblical poetry.” 

Critical and public reception for Leaves of Grass was mixed in Whitman’s lifetime, as many found Whitman’s style and subject matter unnerving. In a private letter to Whitman, Emerson wrote that the first edition of Leaves of Glass was “the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed. I greet you at the beginning of a great career.” Whitman also published his own enthusiastic review of the first edition of Leaves of Grass, declaring “An American bard at last!” Yet, The New York Times wrote of Whitman’s 1860 version, “If possible, he is more reckless and vulgar than in his two former publications. … Yet it would be unjust to deny the evidence of remarkable power which are presented in this work.” "Whitman received little public acclaim for his poems during his lifetime for several reasons:  this openness regarding sex, his self-presentation as a rough working man, and his stylistic innovations”(The Longman Anthology of Poetry). Today, Leaves of Grass is considered one of the greatest books ever written. 

CONDITION:

Bound in richly green leather with raised bands and gilt lettering and tooling on spine and covers. All edges gilt. Orange silk endpapers. Gold silk ribbon bookmark. Printed on archival paper. Smyth sewing & concealed muslin joints. Frontispiece illustration of Walt Whitman. Illustrations by Rockwell Kent. Very clean interiors and boards.

Dimensions: 9 1/4" H x 6 1/4" W x 1 5/8" D

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.