[Rarebooks] FS: True First Edition of James Fenimore Cooper's THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, 1826

[Charles Agvent]

One of many fine items in our new catalog just posted on our home 
page--SPRING MISCELLANY 2012 catalog with 70 select books and 
autographs, all new arrivals: 
http://www.charlesagvent.com/shop/agvent/catalogues.html?id=J5Y9M2kL&mv_pc=1881 


[COOPER, James Fenimore]. THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS; A NARRATIVE OF 1757. 
Philadelphia: Carey & Lea, 1826. First Edition. The true First Edition 
of this classic and very scarce. Two duodecimo (4-1/2" x 7-11/16") 
volumes professionally bound, one volume retaining the original boards 
and the other in recent boards that closely resemble the original, with 
new spines and paper spine labels, complete with all endpapers and 
blanks, top edge trimmed: <i>-<xii>, <1>-282, blank leaf; <i-iv>, 
<1>-289, 2 blank leaves. Will all correct issue points: Volume I: 
pagination present on page 71, page 89 misnumbered 93, chapter XVI 
misnumbered XIV; Volume II: State A of the copyright notice. This copy 
has the final "i" is present on page vii in Volume I, but BAL 3833 
states that "examination suggests that the folio was correctly set and 
the 'i' may have dropped out during the printing. Sequence not 
determined." Grolier One Hundred Influential American Books, 34: "This 
is the ... most famous of the Leatherstocking Tales, and the first in 
which the scout Natty Bumppo was made the symbol of all that was wise, 
heroic and romantic in the lives and characters of the white men who 
made the American wilderness their home...."; Johnson: High Spots of 
American Literature, pp. 24-25; Spiller & Blackburn 7. This book deals 
specifically with the 1757 Anglo-French War and particularly the 
aftermath of the Huron massacre. Contemporary bookplate of William H. 
Groome on the front pastedown of the second volume, along with an early 
twentieth century bookseller label, with Groome's name written on the 
verso of the title page of the first volume and on the recto of the 
blank following the title page of the second volume, both dated 1826. 
Rather light dampstaining to the outer margins of some pages at the 
beginning and end of each volume; moderate foxing throughout. An 
attractive example of this American literary landmark.

William H. Groome was from Easton, Maryland, served in the War of 1812, 
and was a pew holder at the Old Marsh Church. (#016420)

$25,000.00

See images here:

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