Leaves of Grass.

First appearance in print of Songs Before Parting. The fourth edition, first issue of Walt Whitman's (1819-1892) seminal collection of poems on the philosophy of life, Leaves of Grass. This issue also incorporates three poems composed by Whitman during the Civil War (1861-1865), Drum-Taps, Sequel to Drum-Taps, and Songs Before Parting, and marks the first appearance of the latter in print.

Following the collapse of his publishers Thayer & Eldridge, Whitman decided to finance the publication of a 'new & much better edition' himself (Myerson). The resultant book was formed of four separately paginated works, with a reworking of the Leaves of Grass from the third edition of 1860.

Fourth edition, first printing; 8vo (19.5 x 13 cm); lacking contents page, but with the blank leaf noted in BAL issue 1, occasional annotations in pencil, corner tear to Songs Before Parting p.27 without loss of text; publisher's half black morocco, rebacked preserving much of the original spine, red cloth, spine lettered in gilt (Myerson binding B), joints slightly rubbed, internally toned with the odd stain, front endpapers chipped; [7], 8-338, [2], iv, 5-72, [2], 24, [2], 36pp.

Myerson A2.4.a1; BAL 21399; Wells pp.12-14.