The History of the Navy of the United States of America
Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1839. First Edition. Black and white engraved frontispiece map in each volume. Original cloth over boards. Octavos. xxxvi, [37]-394 pages and 481, [1 "Note"] pages.
The important first edition of James Fenimore Cooper's early history of the United States Navy, in excellent condition and original bindings.
Though better known for his "Leatherstocking Tales" of the French and Indian Wars, Cooper's History of the Navy was a very well-respected account of its early decades. It features a clear writing style and crackling battle scenes, and remains a foundational work in the history of the Navy.
Ref. HOWES C748; SABIN 15442; BAL 3888.
A brilliant set, bound in publisher's original plum cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine titles and ornaments. Minor extremity wear, shallow bumps, and a bit of chipping at spine ends. Sunning to spines. Old prior owner name penned to each front free endpaper, 3/4" square missing at top edge of front free endpaper in volume I, leaf 463/464 in volume II rumpled at top fore corner. Text and frontispieces in both volumes clean and fresh. Each volume housed in a quarter Morocco custom slipcase, with raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt ornamentation to spines. Slipcases show moderate extremity wear, darkening, and moderate soil. Volume II slipcase is split along one top edge. Books in fine condition overall, slipcases very good.
Item #1759
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