The Bradley Martin Copy of the First Book on Walt Whitman

New York: American News Company, 1867. First edition. 12mo. 108 pp. Publisher's purple-red cloth-covered boards, stamped in blind and in gilt, spine faded, boards moderately soiled; red speckled edges; soiling and abrasions to title-page; book-plate of legendary bookman H. Bradley Martin at bottom of front paste-down; in quarter green morocco case. Myerson D5; BAL 2134

A scarce first edition of the first book on Walt Whitman, and Burroughs's first book. He and Whitman met in 1863 in Washington, D.C., and became lifelong friends. Whitman was intimately involved in the production of this book, and as Burroughs notes, it "abounds in the marks of Whitman's hand," as he provided the title, chapter headings, the whole of chapter 21, as well as the Biographical Notes.