Memoranda During the War (SIGNED 'TO MY FRIEND EMILY FROM WALT')

Whitman, Walt

Published by Author's Publication, Camden, New Jersey, 1875

Small octavo, "good," with the spine covering missing its top 1/4-inch and its bottom 5/8ths inch. Cup ring on the front board; attachment of the title page is fragile. A now fairly faint gift inscription to the embossed mint green free front endpaper reads: "To my friend Emily / From Walt," to which the seller from whom we acquired added "(presumably not Whitman)," then immediately adding "A scarce book here in the second and only separate issue (state A). Wells and Goldsmith speculate that not more than 100 copies were issued thus," most of this text having been promptly collected into "The Two Rivulets" (1876). So, we're to presume author Whitman passed along one of his scant 100 copies to another "Walt," who proceeded to sign it as a gift, using only his first name, in a hand quite similar to Whitman's, just to confuse his posterity? The potential buyer will examine our scans for him or herself, reaching their own conclusion. NO portraits in this copy, description of the play "Our American Cousin" has not been "corrected" to "witless," but this copy does offer the single page advertisement for Whitman's other books at rear; 68 pp. plus one. Nevins describes this as "One of the most penetrating pictures of life and suffering in army hospitals." Here reduced from $3,900. Seller Inventory # 011713

Bibliographic Details

Title: Memoranda During the War (SIGNED 'TO MY ...
Publisher: Author's Publication, Camden, New Jersey
Publication Date: 1875
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
Signed: Inscribed by Author(s)
Edition: 1st Edition