The Book: Leaves of Grass 2nd Edition (1856)

For this exhibit I will focus on the second edition published in 1856 of which a copy is owned by the Thomas Fisher Library, University of Toronto and available for observation. This edition contains poems and passages which certain elite strata of society when this book was published deemed “obscene literature” and wanted to censor (Hebb 1927).

The second edition on Leaves of Grass is bound in an olive green cloth and that measures around 6 ¾” by 3 ¼” and 2” thick. The title of the book is engraved in gold typeface, which has worn off, with ornamentation along the edges. This edition is vastly different from the 6^th edition which Whitman wanted to be presented in a more attainable format.

The spine of the book also contains the title in embossed lettering but the gold has worn off and is not visible anymore.

The back cover also contains the title of the book in similar format to the front. Overall, the book resembles a small prayer book which is ironic given that it was attacked by religious groups.

Inside the book, we find a medium framed portrait of Whitman from the knees up, standing in the “carpenter” pose with hat tilted to one side and dressed in what seem like a workman outfit. This is an early example of how Whitman attempted to promote himself and his image as a “working class American poet” to his audience. It’s a portrait of a younger Whitman, in his 40s, which is very different from the mythical image of Whitman as the old man, the founding pillar of American literature, as passed down through the decades. (Lawson 2003).