[Signed] Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass: The First (1855) Edition (association copy) Whitman, Walt; Malcolm Cowley (editor); Wallace Stegner (signed)

Wallace Stegner's copy, with his ownership signature on the front free endpaper. One of 475 copies ""specially bound as a Christmas remembrance for friends of The Viking Press."" Uncommon as such, and a seemingly uncommon book in the trade edition as well. With a long introduction by editor Malcolm Cowley and Whitman's own original introduction following. Likely this copy was a gift from or via Malcolm Cowley who was a friend and for a time a colleague recruited by Stegner to the creative writing program at Stanford University. In turn this book was a gift from Stegner to writer and poet John Danieland comes from Daniel's library. John Daniel is afour-time recipient of the Oregon Book Awards among other honors. He started his career as a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University and afterward lived in a cottage on Stegner's property in Los Altos Hills for five years (during the years in whichCrossing to Safetywas written). He's written movingly about Stegner in several essays collected in his booksThe Trail HomeandThe Far Corner. Octavo in green cloth with a black buckram spine bordered by a narrow gilt band. In a paper slipcase with a large title plate. A very near fine book with a touch of rubbing to corners. The slipcase is very good with rubbing and some wear to corners; on its rear face, there is some sunning at top and a one-inch damp stain at lower left edge.