1855 v 1860

Reading the analysis of both versions, the history behind them is what fascinated me. The first version and printing is considered very rare and valuable given the personal work and correcting that was done towards them. Misspellings, minor line changing. Whitman encountered various nuisances that he changed mid printing and these various printings made the first edition super valuable given their imperfections. he never thought they would garner such much scrutiny and appraisal and he was flustered when he learned that the manuscript could fetch so much money. (money he could have used for his sick brother eddy.)

Whitman was never content with his masterwork, hashing and rehashing, shifting lines and altering the overall presentation of leave's of grass. the first edition however, would be consider the ultimate expression of his, work, covered in cloth with green grass and bold gold printing of LEAVES OF GRASS.

however, the 1960 edition introduces something very important.

For one, her formats the text in a biblical fashion mirroring the holy scripture while also expressing what the text really means, the representation of democracy and freedom and the triumph of religion. Whitman's religion.

I also noticed that he changed breeding in the original version to sex. Maybe the word sex was a little to intense. He added a ton of new poetry including calamus which is considered an important piece and recognized not only as an amazing political power, but represents male yearning, unattested love and manly love. It is a small glance of Whitman's personal life.