James Fenimore Cooper
American writer, 1789-1851
"Cooper's historical romances depicting frontier and Native American life from the 17th to the 19th centuries created a unique form of American literature. He lived much of his boyhood and the last fifteen years of life in Cooperstown, New York, which was founded by his father William on property that he owned. Cooper served in the U.S. Navy, where he learned the technology of managing sailing vessels which greatly influenced many of his novels. His best-known works are five historical novels of the frontier period, written between 1823 and 1841, known as the ""Leatherstocking Tales"", which introduced the iconic American frontier scout, and the Romantic novel ""The Last of the Mohicans""."
Source:
American writer (1789-1851). Autograph letter signed ("J. Fenimore Cooper"). Paris. 22.03.1827. 8vo (192:134 mm). 1 p. on a single bifolium. Address panel to verso.
$ 5,343 / 5.000 €
(33844/BN29414)
In remarkably good French, to the engineer Pierre-Alexandre Adolphe Jullien, thanking him for his concern about his health, and gives an estimate for the publication date of the forthcoming French edition of The Prairie ("sans doute, pendant le mois d'avril", depending on the industry of the translator and publisher) and he makes some social arrangements in Paris. Cooper had brought his family to Paris the previous year, becoming the centre of a small but influential circle of American expatriots.
- Traces of seal, slight loss to upper forecorner from opening (expert old repair, no loss). Early annotation in French to head describing Cooper as "le Walter-Scott de l’amérique du nord". Provenance: Charavay, Paris..
American writer (1789-1851). Cheque with autogr. insertion and signature. Cooperstown. 29.05.1834. Narrow oblong 8vo. (57:149 mm).
$ 481 / 450 €
(59703/BN44186)
Issued by the Otsego County Bank in the amount of US $ 25,42. - In mint condition.
sold
E. Brief mit U.
Autograph ist nicht mehr verfügbar
James Fenimore Cooper (1789–1851), American writer. Autograph letter signed („J. Fenimore Cooper“). N. p. o. d. [After 1844]. 8°. ¾ p. – To an unnamed addressee, criticizes the French translation of his autobiographical novel, „Afloat and Ashore“: „Monsieur, L’épitaphe n’est pas la même dans les deux langues. Mais elle est, je suppose, assez bien exacte. Les lignes se trouvent, Shakespeare, dans le drame de Tempest, Act I, Scène II. C’est Prospero qui parle à sa fille Miranda. S’il y a une traduction généralement reçue de ce drame, il sera mieux à la placer dans le titre. Elle se rapport au roman de cette manière. […] On a fait une erreur dans la seconde page. Nous disons en anglais The waters of the Atlantic. The waters of the Pacific &c, c’est à dire les eaux qui sont tributaires à ces mers. Par exemple nous disons The waters of the Mississipi, laquelle est une grande rivière avec les tributaires, nous voulons dire, dans ce cas là, toutes les eaux qui sont tributaires à la Mississipi. Ainsi j’ai dit qu’elle nous a donné (la possession de Louisiane) milles voies au commerce internes et aux eaux de l’océan Pacifique. Je ne sais rien du style français, mais l’idée est plus exacte et véritable, il me semble, dans l’original que dans la traduction. – Je vous salue [...]“. – In fine condition, with a rough right edge, and a uniform shade of mild toning.