"HOW ALL HIS PAGES GLOW WITH CREATIVE FIRE!" (BALZAC)

COOPER, James Fenimore. The Complete Works. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons (Knickerbocker Press), [1895-96]. Thirty-two volumes. Octavo, contemporary three-quarter blue morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spines, raised bands, marbled endpapers top edges gilt. $6500.

Limited “Leather-Stocking Edition” of the works of America’s first great novelist, number 667 of 1000 sets produced, very handsomely bound. A beautiful set in fine condition.

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). The text of this set is based on the Townsend edition of 1852. Each volume contains an aquatint frontispiece and illustrated title page printed on mounted India paper. Spiller & Blackburn, "Collected Works" 7 (173).

Several headcaps and a few joints expertly restored. A fine set.