Walt Whitman's Democratic Vistas
rare first printing in original wrappers

"For our New World I consider far less important for what it has done, or what it is, than for results to come. Sole among nationalities, These States have assumed the task to put in forms of lasting power and practicality, on areas of amplitude rivaling the operations of the physical kosmos, the moral and political speculations of ages, long, long deferred, the Democratic Republican principle, and the theory of development and perfection by voluntary standards, and self-suppliance. Who else, indeed, except the United States, in history, so far, have accepted in unwitting faith, and, as we now see, stand, act upon, and go security for, thee things?"

First printing, one of only 500 copies printed, of Whitman's impassioned assessment of the future of America.

"No book of Whitman's is more honest than this one, and only Leaves of Grass is more important. Democratic Vistas is a tragic utterance, perhaps a turgid one to ears accustomed only to the lyric optimism of which Whitman also was capable. It was a hard book for Whitman to feel and write, and it has been found a hard book to read. But it is a necessary book, not only for the notes it provides on the disillusionment that followed the Civil War, but for the criticism it gives of a society which always can benefit, as any live society can, from chastisement by its best lovers" (Mark Van Doren, The Portable Whitman). Original wrappers with some chipping and edgewear; almost undetectable reinforcement to top joint; minor soiling to rear wrapper. An excellent copy of a particularly fragile item, rare in this condition.