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The Walt Whitman Collection was donated
by Alice and Rollo G. Silver. It is made up of first editions,
collected editions, translations, and reprints of the poet’s
own work, as well as contemporary works about him; many are
inscribed or association copies. It also includes holograph
letters and literary manuscripts, many photographs, engravings
and memorabilia, and correspondence with Whitman’s biographers
and other collectors. Selected highlights include the first
printing of Leaves of Grass
(Brooklyn, 1855), the famous “Death Bed” edition
of the same work (Philadelphia, 1891/92), and nearly all of
the revised editions published in the thirty-six years between
the two. Also present are the novel Franklin
Evans (Whitman’s first book), an unpublished
manuscript version of “Sail Out for Good, Eidólon
Yacht!” from Leaves of Grass,
and books from Whitman’s library.
Many examples of the work of the most accomplished and influential
private presses are represented in the Collection: the Doves
Press (the monumental five-volume Bible and the works of Milton);
the Ashendene Press (Ecclesiasticus);
the Grabhorn press; Mardersteig’s Officina Bodoni; the
Golden Cockerel Press (Four Gospels);
the Overbrook Press; the Merrymount Press (the folio Altar
Book of 1896); the Allen Press; an impressive assemblage of
Nonesuch Press books and ephemera; and bibliographies and
works about the presses. The collection also houses Mr. Silver’s
writings on printing history and kindred subjects in books
and scholarly journals.
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An example of fine modern printing from the Allen
Press. |
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