Books and Manuscripts

Boston: James R. Osgood and Company, 1881-82. First edition thus, first printing, printing A (one of 1,010 copies printed), more commonly known as the "suppressed Boston edition" (seventh edition overall). 8vo. 382 pp. Presentation copy, inscribed by Whitman on front free endpaper: "Dr. C H Shivers/from the author". Illustrated with an engraved portrait of Whitman, facing p. 29. Original mustard cloth, stamped in gilt, soiling to boards, extremities and joints rubbed, light wear to spine ends, short band of fore-edge of rear board affected by damp; all edges trimmed; mottled light blue endpapers; pp. 171-190 slightly proud. BAL 21418

Dr. C.H. Shivers was a Haddonfield, New Jersey-based physician, member of the New Jersey Medical Society for Camden County and friend and dinner companion of Whitman's (according to The Collected Writings of Walt Whitman, Vol. 4, Correspondence of Walt Whitman, edited by Edwin Haviland Miller, 1989).

"On March 1, 1882, Oliver Stevens, district attorney for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, suggested to James R. Osgood & Co., that this edition should be withdrawn from publication because of its obscene nature. After some discussion between Whitman, the publishers and the attorney general about alterations and excisions to remedy the situation, Whitman decided in early April against making the necessary changes. James R. Osgood & Co., then decided to cease acting as publisher and on May 17, 1882, reached an agreement with Whitman whereby Whitman received $100, 225 copies, more or less, in sheets, and the plates and dies, in return for all claims for royalties and cancelling the contract. On May 19 Whitman wrote to the Boston binder, S.H. Sanborn, requesting him to send the 225 sets of sheets to James Arnold of Philadelphia, and to the Boston printers, Rand & Avery, requesting them to prepare 225 copies of a new title leaf. Whitman sent out the first copies of this this issue on June 11, 1882." (BAL, Vol. 9, p. 43)