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Walt Whitman to James R. Osgood, 29 May 1881

About This Item

  • Title: Walt Whitman to James R. Osgood, 29 May 1881
  • Date: May 29, 1881
  • Creator(s): Walt Whitman
  • Whitman Archive ID: tex.00422
  • Source: T. E. Hanley Collection, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin. The transcription presented here is derived from Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Edwin Haviland Miller (New York: New York University Press, 1961–1977), 226–227. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
  • Contributors to digital file: Stefan Schoeberlein Nima Najafi Kianfar Eder Jaramillo Nicole Gray
  • Cite this page: Whitman, Walt. "Walt Whitman to James R. Osgood, 29 May 1881." The Walt Whitman Archive. Gen. ed. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price. Accessed 25 April 2024. <http://www.whitmanarchive.org>.
  • Source File: tex.00422.xml (TEI)
431 Stevens Street Camden New Jersey May 29 '81 My dear Mr Osgood

I suppose you rec'd the copy yesterday (Saturday) as I sent it the previous day. You already have my plan—a volume of say 400 pages, (not over 450) handy size, first class (but I know you wouldn't issue any other) in paper, print, binding &c: but markedly plain & simple even to Quakerness—I have a desire that all through even in capitalization, punctuation &c it shall be so—no sensationalism or luxury—a well made book for honest wear & use & carrying with you—to retail at $3—

The book has not hitherto been really published at all—the issues have been reconnoisances—printings in proof for zealous friends &c.

The British market is an important consideration.

The copy I sent will have to be returned before very long to me, for complete minor & technical revision, as I did not wait to finish it after receiving your last letter.

But I reserve any thing further until I hear your definite decision on the main point—the publication1—

Walt Whitman

Notes

  • 1. Osgood informed Whitman on May 31 that the firm would be "glad to publish the book" and proposed a royalty of ten per cent. Again he inquired about Worthington's pirated books: "We should like to feel clear that you can control the old Thayer & Eldridge plates, so as to stop the issue of any books printed from them" (The Complete Writings of Walt Whitman [New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1902], 8:278–279). Osgood returned Whitman's copy at the same time, and enclosed a copy of Our Poetical Favorites as a sample of what the firm proposed to do with Whitman's book. [back]
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