SIGNED by Walt Whitman in commemoration of his 70th birthday. Intended for Whitman's private distribution and Banned by American bookshops and libraries for its explicit sexual imagery. One OF ONLY 300 COPIES of Whitman's 70 birthday edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman s literary masterpiece, "America's second Declaration of Independence" (PMM, 342). With six portraits of Whitman, including the famous original mounted frontispiece photograph with a butterfly resting on his finger. 

Whitman s explanatory note is printed on the title page: "Today, after finishing my 70th year, the fancy comes for celebrating it by a special complete, final utterance, in one handy volume of L. of G. with their Annex, and Backward Glance-and for stamping and sprinkling all with portraits and facial photos, such as they actually were, taken from life, different stages. Doubtless, anyhow, the volume is more a Person than a book. And for testimony to all (and good measure) I here with pen and ink append my name." 

Text and frontispiece fine, Original pebble-grained black leather over flexible boards and closing clasp, upper board lettered in gilt and with facsimile of Whitman's signature in gilt, edges gilt, marbled endpapers; front free endpaper has a tiny split from hinge, rubbing to extremities and joints, chipped at head and tail of spine. Filipino poet José García Villa's inscription to pastedown Horace Traubel (gift inscription to C.P. Farrell on initial blank) In a rubbed green cloth slipcase, 7.5" x 5". A desirable copy of a Whitman rarity. Book #v1260. $16,500. We specialize in Rare Ayn Rand, history, and science.