WHITMAN, Walt

As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free, and Other Poems (Leaves of Grass)

First edition. A little rubbed, a sharp, near fine copy. A collection of poetry described by Whitman (who wrote most of his own publicity and, occasionally, reviews of his own books -- leaving nothing to chance as it were) as "...the poems of the author's elder age -- are the surplusage of Leaves of Grass -- the wake following that volume, as the eddies behind a ship." The title poem was delivered at the Dartmouth College commencement. This is a presentation copy, Inscribed by the author: "Lilla Gosling from Walt Whitman." Gosling was a nurse whom Whitman met in Canada through his friend and eventual literary executor (along with two others) R.M. Bucke. She was the daughter of Thomas and Anne Willson Miller of Niagara/Buffalo and latterly of Owen Sound Ontario. In 1875 Lilla married Frank Gosling, a Banker, in London, Middlesex, Ontario. Richard Bucke, the dear friend of Whitman, was a physician in London, Middlesex. Copies of Whitman books with tipped-in signatures, envelopes tipped-in with the author's signature in the return address and signed photos attached (often by Whitman's own design), while no longer plentiful, are nevertheless much more common than books actually inscribed by him in the book, as this is. Furthermore, it is of some added interest that he signed the book with his full name rather than as "the Author" as was usually the case. A particularly nice association copy. BAL 21408.

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