On 26 April 1881, John Boyle O'Reilly wrote to Whitman that "James R. Osgood wants to see the material for your complete book" (Correspondence, III, 224n). Whitman worte Osgood on 8 May offering a book of "about 400 pages." and the firm responded on the 12th that they wanted to see "the copy" for the book in order to "give you our views" (III, 224, 225n). But after Osgood wrote on the 23rd asking for the copy this week," Whitman replied three days ater that he would send it at once, and he did dend 527 pages of "copy" on the 27th (III, 226n, 226; Daybooks, I, 241). On the 31st, Osgood wrote Whitman that they would be "glad to publish the book," and offered a 10% royalty (Correspondence, III, 226n). Whitman replied on 1 June by countering with a royalty of 25 cents per copy if the book was priced at $2.00, or 30 cents for a $2.50 retail price, and Osgood accepted on the third (III, 227, 227n). Whitman confirmed the agreement the next day, suggesting a "plain green muslin binding," with the Gutekunst photograph as a frontispiece (III, 228). The contract, signed on I October; gave Whitman the copyright and a 25 cent royalty on a @2.00 retail price and named Osgood as the sole publisher of the book for ten years (Daybooks, I, 263; printed in full, 263n).

On 16 June, Whitman wrote Osgood that he had "finished my copy which is now ready to put at hand" (Correspondence, III, 230). Osgood sent sample pages on the 10th and Whitman announced on the 17th that the book would "probably be out before winter" (III, 230n, 231). In Boston to see the book through press, by 6 July Whitman was "busy five or six hours yet every day" on "outlining matters of type, size of page, & other details" (III, 223; Daybooks, I, 254). Although the book was announced in the Critic for 13 August, the "first batch of page-proof" did not arrive until the 24th (I, 256n). On the 15th, "less than 2000 impressions" were "struck off" of the plate of the Hollyer engraving (Correspondence, III, 234). Three days later, the book was "almost finished--I am on the last pages of the proof--will be in the stores ab't last of October" (III, 244). Whitman finished reading proof on 30 September and noted, "the printing of my book is finished" on 10 October (Daybooks, I, 263; Correspondence, III, 248; Whjitman later gave the dates for when the book was "Set up, cast & printed" as "Aug: 22--Sept: 29--'1881" [Daybooks, I, 264n]). On 23 October he noted that "it is all ready, & will be delivered & for sale 4th Nov."; he began sending out copies on 9 November (Correspondence, III, 249, 252). he also "advised Osgood to sell "250 tru-calf (or ahlf-calf) binding for holiday sales," but the plan was apparently not carried out (Daybooks, I, 268). On 25 October 1881, Whitman wrote to a friend that he had sent him a circular advertising the book a week ago (III, 251).

1,010 copies printed 4 October 1881. Sales were initially good and Benjiman Ticknor of the firm wrote Whitman on 14 November 1881: "The first edition is all gone & we are binding up the second" (III, 253n). On 25 January 1882, Dr. John Johnson wrote Whitman, quoting a note from Osgood, who had "printed three editions, 2000 copies in all" (III, 276--277n). On 13 April, Osgood paid Whitman $405.50 in royalties (the equivalent of 1, 622 copies at 25 cents each)(III, 273n). Although the Springfield Rpublican of 23 May 1882 reported that 1,600 copies had been sold, Whitman wrote a friend on 7 May that "i think [some/] 3000 must have been published" (III, 276A).

Accounts of Whitman seeing the book through press appeared in Boston Daily Globe, 24 August 1881, p. 2, and Boston Pilot, 44 (27 August 1881), 5. Deposited for copyright: title, 7 October 1881; book, 7 November 1881; 15514. Reviewed in Boston Sunday Herald, 30 October 1881, p. 3. Deposit copies: second state: binding A: DLC (NOV 7 181'; rebound), DLC ('NOV 7, 1881'), Prese3ntation copies: second state: binding A: DLC (from Whitman, November 1881); binding B: DLC (from J.R. Osgood to John Lane, 26 April 1899). Copies inscribed by owners: second state: binding A: TxU (November 1881), NN-R (26 November 1881). Price $2.00.