Royal octavo, pp. 31, uncut.
Published as an extra to "The New World."
The last page (32) contains advertisement: "New Works in Press."
Written during Whitman's Bohemian days it was advertised as a thrilling romance by one of the best novelists in this country and had a sale of between 20,000 and 25,000 copies, which netted the author about $200. References to the work in later years irritated Whitman and he refused to discuss it. The work is extremely scarce considering the great number that were published.
1855
Leaves of Grass. Brooklyn, New York. 1855.
First edition. Twelve poems.
Imperial octavo, pink paper wrappers.
"Leaves of Grass" printed in block letters across front wrapper, end wrapper blank. Steel engraved portrait, title, uncaptioned preface, xii, Leaves of Grass, pp. 95, end blank.