September 28, 18871
["Indicating that Walt Whitman had sent Carey photographs2 and would send more
later."]
Walt Whitman
Correspondent:
William Carey
(1858–1901) worked for the editorial department of The
Century Magazine. The September 1887 issue of the monthly advertised
signed photographs of Whitman (taken by George C. Cox earlier that summer). See
also Whitman's letter to Cox of September 15,
1887.
Notes
- 1. Only this summary of the
letter could be located. [back]
- 2. The well-known celebrity
photographer George Cox (1851–1903) proposed selling signed copies of his
photographs of Whitman. However, when the September 1887 issue of Century appeared with an advertisement, Whitman still had
not seen proofs, much less signed the photographs. He wrote John H. Johnston on
September 1, 1887, "He advertises . . . to
sell my photo, with autograph. The latter is forged, & the former illegal
& unauthorized." The disagreement was quickly resolved, and Whitman signed
photographs for Cox and returned them. Cox had taken multiple photographs of
Whitman in April, 1887, including the image known as "The Laughing Philosopher." [back]