Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman Value Guide

This 1900 edition of Leaves of Grass represents a significant era in American literature, capturing Walt Whitman's lifelong evolution of his most famous work. Featuring an included autobiography, this cloth-bound volume offers collectors a glimpse into the poet's philosophy of humanity and nature shortly after his final revisions.

What Is Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman Worth?

The typical price range for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman is $70 - $85 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• The structural integrity of the cloth binding, particularly the spine and corner wear.
• The presence of foxing or yellowing on the paper pages which can decrease the $70-$85 valuation.
• The clarity of the ink and the overall cleanliness of the internal text block.
• Provenance or previous ownership marks that may link the book to specific historical collections.

How to Identify Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman?

• Verify the inclusion of the specific autobiography section which distinguishes this early 20th-century printing.
• Check the title page for the 1900 publication date and United States origin markings.
• Inspect the cloth binding and paper stock for authentic turn-of-the-century manufacturing characteristics.
• Confirm the presence of the nine-edition revision history often referenced in the front matter of this era.

History of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by American poet Walt Whitman. Though first published in 1855, Whitman spent his entire life writing and revising Leaves of Grass, revising it multiple times until his death. There were nine editions in total, and this is an early 1900s edition. The poems are loosely connected, and represent Whitman's philosophy of humanity and the natural world.