Whitman, Walt. Envelope signed ("Walt Whitman"), and inscribed "Autumn Leaves ... for Miss Chevalier"

WHITMAN, WALT

ENVELOPE SIGNED ("WALT WHITMAN"), AND INSCRIBED "AUTUMN LEAVES ... FOR MISS CHEVALIER"

Brown envelope (6 x 8 ½ in.; 154 x 216 mm), (Camden, N.J.), October 1878, with a small collection of about 12 pressed leaves of varying types and sizes; some minor handling wear, as expected.

A charming autumnal gift from "America's poet"
Though the identity of the recipient is not known, near contemporary sources make reference to "the Chevaliers" as some elderly women who lived across the street from Whitman in Camden.

LITERATURE:
Walt Whitman, The Correspondence, ed. Ted Genoways (Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2004), p. 53

Condition Report:
Brown envelope (6 x 8 ½ in.; 154 x 216 mm), (Camden, N.J.), October 1878, with a small collection of about 12 pressed leaves of varying types and sizes; some minor handling wear, as expected.

In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.