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Walt Whitman Lengthy ALS: "my book business, + a little writing" Re: 1876 "Leaves of Grass" Orders Plus Fellow Poet Joaquin Miller!
Walt Whitman Lengthy ALS: "my book business, + a little writing" Re: 1876 "Leaves of Grass" Orders Plus Fellow Poet Joaquin Miller!
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Description:

Walt Whitman
Camden, NJ, May 5, [1876]
Walt Whitman Lengthy ALS: "my book business, + a little writing" Re: 1876 "Leaves of Grass" Orders Plus Fellow Poet Joaquin Miller!
ALS

A 2pp autograph letter signed by American poet Walt Whitman (1819-1892) as "Walt Whitman" near the top of the second page. May 5, [1876]. Camden, New Jersey. Boldly inscribed on both sides of a single sheet of paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds, some with splits which have been discretely reinforced with tape verso. Minor to moderate toning, with edge darkening and scattered minor chipped edges. Else very good to near fine with characteristic bold writing and signature. 7.375" x 9.375."

This exact letter can be found and cross-referenced in two authoritative texts compiling Walt Whitman's known correspondence. It is listed in editor Edwin Haviland Miller's "The Collected Writings of Walt Whitman, Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, Volume III, 1876-1885" (New York: New York University Press, 1964), p. 45; and also included in the digital archive, The Walt Whitman Archive, Life & Letters, Correspondence, as Whitman Archive ID: med.00445. Both editorial sources provide us with invaluable historical context for understanding this May 5, [1876] letter.

Whitman wrote this lengthy letter to his longtime friend and correspondent John Swinton (1829-1901), a Scottish-born newspaper journalist and editor. The pair circulated in the same literary world of 19th C. New York City: Whitman as the controversial author of the poetry collection "Leaves of Grass," first published in 1855; and Swinton as the managing editor of the "New York Times" during the 1860s, and most recently as a contributing journalist of the "New York Sun" (1875-1883).

In January 1876, Whitman had published an unsigned letter called "Walt Whitman's Actual American Position" in the "West Jersey Press," alleging that he had been abandoned by American readers, publishers, and a society wholly unprepared to accept his revolutionary prose and poetry. Whitman had suffered a debilitating stroke in 1873, and he characterized himself elsewhere as "old, poor, and paralyzed." Sympathy for Whitman ran high abroad, especially among the less prudish readers of the United Kingdom. In March 1876, Scottish poet Robert Buchanan took up Whitman's cause in the "London Daily News," urging British men and women of letters to subscribe to a fund to support Whitman through the purchase of his books.

Whitman was not without closer-to-home champions; a month after Buchanan's appeal, Swinton had rallied American readers to Whitman's cause in an April 1, 1876 article in the "New York Herald." He followed up with a private letter advising Whitman to send a promotional circular to six mutual acquaintances: John Quincy Adams Ward, David Jardine, Joaquin Miller, Dr. Ferdinand Seeger, Edmund Clarence Stedman, and William Swinton. In our May 5, [1876] letter, Whitman dutifully reports to Swinton that he has contacted all six men, and most had placed orders or promised to do so.

Whitman wrote to Swinton in full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

"431 Stevens St
Camden N Jersey
May 5 - pm

Dear friend,

Nothing very notable to write about but I thought I would send you a line - This is one of my comfortable days - good night's sleep last night - breakfast + dinner to-day with appetite - still get out a little most every day as formerly - my book business, + a little writing + reading give me three hours or so of occupation (lazily) every day when I am not too ill - and then the baby, my brother's 6 mo's infant boy, very fine + bright (of course) is an unfailing delight + diversion to me the young one knows me so well, + is never so happy as when I am tending him.

I adopted your suggestion of 3 or 4 weeks since - with result as follows wrote to

Wm Swinton - no answer
to EC Stedman, sent an order at once enc'g $30
" JQA Ward, Kind answer, will order presently
" Dr. Seeger, answer, order 1 set + money enc.
" Joaquin Miller, order a set copy + sent the money
" Mr. Jardine, answered a few days ago

I did not write either to G.A. Townsend or to WC Church - have not sent the set to Russell Young, nor yours, as in your last requested, - but will do so forthwith - rec'd the slip from Cincinnati Com. (Conway's letter) you sent - Don't know what 'vile' paragraph in the Graphic you allude to in yours of April 7 - Best remembrances to Mrs. Smith - Are you coming on to the Exposition opening next Wednesday?

Walt Whitman."

Important individuals mentioned in Whitman's letter include (in alphabetical order):

- "J Q A Ward" referred to American sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward (1830-1910)

- "W C Church" referred to William Conant Church (1836-1917), editor of "The Galaxy" newspaper

- "Mr Jardine" referred to Scottish-born New York City architect David Jardine (1840-1892)

- "Joaquin Miller" referred to Cincinnatus Miller (1837-1919), better known by his pen name Joaquin Miller, the Western adventurer, traveler, poet, raconteur, and internationally recognized literary celebrity

- "Dr Seeger" referred to Dr. Ferdinand Seeger (1846-1923), a homeopathic doctor

- "E C Stedman" referred to Edmund Clarence Stedman (1833-1908), a fellow poet who was also a former "New York World" correspondent

- "Wm Swinton" referred to William Swinton (1833-1892), John Swinton's younger brother, who was a book reviewer as well as Whitman's friend

- "G.A. Townsend" referred to George A. Townsend (1841-1914), a journalist associated with both "The New York Herald" and "The Chicago Tribune"

- "Russell Young" referred to John Russell Young (1841-1899), who had founded the "New York Standard" in 1870

Twenty years after "Leave of Grass" was first issued to scandalized outrage, it was being published for the sixth time in a 1876 "Centennial Edition." The 1876 edition contained two volumes: the first volume "Leaves of Grass" and the companion volume called "Two Rivulets." The sale of Whitman's works by subscribing well-wishers was a godsend to the financially strapped poet. This income was the direct result of a very public literary debate raging in the American, Canadian, and British press at the time. At question was Walt Whitman's merit as a poet, and whether or not he was appreciated, and by whom.

431 Stevens Street was the home of Walt Whitman's younger brother, the engineer and Civil War veteran George Washington Whitman (1829-1901). Walt Whitman lived there between 1873 and 1884. In this letter, Whitman affectionately describes his nephew and namesake, Walter Whitman (1875-1876); sadly, the baby died only two months later, aged 8 months.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 7.375" x 9.375"
  • Medium: ALS

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