A mailing envelope addressed entirely in Walt Whitman's hand to himself at his famous Camden, New Jersey address: "Walt Whitman / 328 Mickle Street / Camden / New Jersey," with a 2-cent Washington stamp affixed. At the upper left a later hand has written "For Dr. R.H. Bell, from Mrs. M.C. Davis, May 13th, 1903." At the lower left appears a contemporary authentication: "This envelope was addressed by Walt Whitman. M.C.D." — the initials of Mary Oakes Davis, Whitman's housekeeper and companion during his final years at Mickle Street.
328 Mickle Street, Camden (now called Walt Whitman House) is one of American literature's most storied addresses, where the poet lived from 1884 until his death on March 26, 1892. Mary Davis served as his devoted housekeeper throughout this period and would have been the natural authenticating authority for items from the household. The envelope's bold, large handwriting is fully consistent with Whitman's late-period hand. A self-addressed envelope written by Whitman at his most famous address, authenticated by his housekeeper at the time, is a vivid and evocative relic of one of America's greatest poets.
Estimate: $1,200–$2,000
This item will be accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from One of a Kind Collectibles.