As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free

1872. First Edition. Signed. WHITMAN, Walt. As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free. and Other Poems. Washington: 1872. Slim octavo, original green cloth. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $5200.First edition, boldly signed and dated by Whitman in purple ink on the title page: ""Walt Whitman October 1884.""On June 14, 1872, twelve days before Whitman was scheduled to deliver the title poem at Dartmouth College, he wrote: ""I shall print my College Poem in a small book"" (Correspondence, II, 177). This collection of Whitman poems includes ""One Song, America, Before I Go,"" ""Souvenirs of Democracy,"" ""As a Strong Bird on Pinions Free,"" ""The Mystic Trumpeter,"" ""O Star of France,"" ""Virginia-The West,"" and ""By Broad Potomac's Shore."" With eight pages of publisher's ads as issued, including ""Foreign Criticism on Walt Whitman."" Myerson A7.1.a1. BAL 21408. Waterstaining to front cover, affecting ""Birds"" and ""Free"" of title, minor foxing to endpapers. Interior clean and bright, signature bold. A very good copy, signed by Whitman.