1828 FIRST AMERICAN EDITION OF JAMES FENIMORE COOPER’S NOTIONS OF THE AMERICANS, IN ORIGINAL BOARDS

COOPER, James Fenimore. Notions of the Americans: Picked Up by a Travelling Bachelor. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1828. Two volumes. Octavo, original half pale orange cloth, drab paper boards, original paper spine labels, uncut. $1250.

First American edition of Cooper’s defense to Europeans of the American mentality, in original boards.

From 1826 to 1833, Cooper lived in Europe, "giving himself up to travel, authorship, and controversy over the relative virtues of America and Europe" (DAB). His Notions of the Americans, purporting to be a series of letters written home by an Englishman traveling in the United States, was his attempt to defend Americans from the misunderstandings he had encountered in Europe. Preceded a few months earlier by the London edition. BAL 3842. Howes C750. Spiller & Blackburn 10. Owner names excised from top corners of blank front free endpapers.

Text foxed; fragile original boards in unusually nice condition, with a bit of soiling, minor rubbing to paper spine labels.