Complete Poems & Prose of Walt Whitman 1855... 1888. Authenticated & Personal Book (handled by W.W.)... Portraits from Life... Autograph

[Camden, NJ]: Printed for the Author by Ferguson Brothers, 1888. Signed Limited Edition. Limited edition. Signed by Walt Whitman on the title page of Leaves of Grass. Additionally inscribed by Whitman's literary executor, Horace Traubell, on front free endpaper to a Philadelphia doctor, "To Norton Downs from Horace Traubell / April 1893 / In memory of Walt Whitman and gratefulness for services to him + to me."

[ii], 382, 374, 140, 2 pp. With three inserted portrait plates + portrait on photo-pictorial title-page. Bound in publisher's original half green cloth and marbled sides, paper spine label (Myerson and BAL's A bindings with priority assumed). Most copies had a handwritten limitation statement by Traubell on the verso of the leaf containing the "Note at Beginning," but a few copies of the A binding did not; this is one of the ones that did not. According to Myerson it was therefore sent out before February 14, 1889, earlier than others. Presented in custom blue cloth-covered clamshell box with morocco lettering piece on spine. Very Good with two small chips to spine label, rubbing and light wear; front hinge cracked, mild toning to contents.Many pages unopened, as issued.

The definitive edition of Whitman's work issued in his lifetime, published just three years before his death. It is comprised of printings of slightly altered plates of the Philadelphia, 1882, edition of Leaves of Grass; the Glasgow, 1883 edition of Specimen Days & Collect; and the 1888 second printing of November Boughs; plus, the first printings of the 1-page "Note at Beginning" and the 2-page "Note at End." Myerson A 2.7m. BAL 21431.