"I AM LARGE, I CONTAIN MULTITUDES": THE COMPLETE WRITINGS OF WALT WHITMAN, LOVELY ILLUSTRATED SET IN VELLUM-GILT

WHITMAN, Walt. The Complete Writings of Walt Whitman, Issued under the editorial supervision of his Literary Executors, Richard Maurice Bucke, Thomas B. Harned, and Horace L. Traubel, with additional bibliographical and critical material prepared by Oscar Lovell Triggs, Ph.D. New York & London: G.P. Putnam's Sons, The Knickerbocker Press, (1902). Ten volumes. Octavo, publisher's half vellum, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, grey paper-covered boards, top edges gilt, uncut. $4500.

"The Book-Lover's Camden Edition," number 259 of only 500 numbered sets, with 40 striking photogravures and etchings with printed tissue guards, including 22 portraits.

This definitive edition of Whitman's works was issued under the supervision of three of Whitman's intimate friends: Richard Maurice Bucke, Thomas Harned, and perhaps most importantly, Horace Traubel, whose relationship to Whitman has been likened to that of Boswell to Johnson. With a biographical notice prepared by the literary executors. The first three volumes include Leaves of Grass and other poems, the remaining seven contain the complete prose writings. Index in the final volume of prose works. A total of 1,342 sets of the Complete Writings were produced and sold as six distinct editions; all copies have a general title page stating "The Complete Writings of Walt Whitman" and each "edition" has a half title indicating both the name of that particular edition and its limitation. This set is the sixth such "edition" listed in Myerson, with priority assumed. Myerson B4(6). Bookplate.

A few volumes with inner hinges expertly reinforced, only very minor rubbing to edges and spines, gilt bright. A beautiful, fine, uncut set. Collected works of Whitman are extremely desirable.