THE NOVELS OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER, HANDSOMELY BOUND IN 32 VOLUMES

COOPER, James Fenimore. Novels. New York: W.A. Townsend, 1857-61. Thirty-two volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter green morocco gilt, raised bands, spines with gilt arrows and tomahawks, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt.    $8800.

Early edition of Cooper’s collected novels, each volume with a frontispiece and illustrated title page, very handsomely bound by Macdonald.

Cooper did not begin his literary career until the age of 30, when his wife challenged his claim that he could produce a better novel than the English novel he had been reading to her. His first book, Precaution (1820), was only modestly successful; his second book, The Spy (1821), was a great success and established his reputation as a leading American author. “Cooper’s achievement… was sustained almost to the close of a hectic, crowded career. His worldwide fame attests his power of invention, for his novels have been popular principally for their variety of dramatic incidents, vivid depiction of romantic scenes and situations, and adventurous plots” (Hart, 165). Volume I, Precaution, which has (as issued) an engraved plate of Cooper’s residence in lieu of an illustrated title page. Spiller & Blackburn, Collected Works 5 (170). Bookplates.

Fine condition, a beautiful set.