Leaves of Grass. By Walt Whitman. Illustrated by Rockwell Kent. Collector’s Edition. Easton Press. Norwalk, 1977.

Leaves of Grass is an expansive collection of poetry, with themes of life, individuality, and the natural world. It is widely regarded as the best American poetry of the nineteenth century, and certainly Whitman’s greatest work. Whitman self-published various editions, each with new lines and sections, making it one of the most variable texts between editions. This collector’s edition by the Easton Press contains the standard text of the work as defined by Whitman’s executors. It also contains Rockwell Kent’s elegant illustrations, first published by the Limited Editions Club in 1937.

This collector’s edition is in near-fine condition. In the original green leather, finely gilt stamped. Raised bands. Gilt spine label. Text block near-fine, only former owner’s bookplate to free endpaper. Gilt edges. Silk moire endpapers and bookmark sewn in.

A near-fine collector’s copy of Leaves of Grass.