The Deerslayer or: The First War-path [SIGNED BY ILLUSTRATOR]
Limited Editions Club, 1961. Limited edition. Hardcover. 1/1500. Quarto. (xiv), 510, [2]. Beige paper covered slipcase, green bordered light brown label with black lettering and green motif mounted on spine. Binding with soft tan leather over green marbled paper boards, green bordered tan label with black lettering and green motif mounted on spine.
This limited edition, #87 of 1500 copies hand numbered and signed by illustrator Edward A. Wilson at colophon, contains b/w and color illustrations in gravure throughout. The Deerslayer, or The First War-Path (1841) was the last of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales to be written. Its 1740-1745 time period makes it the first installment chronologically and in the lifetime of the hero of the Leatherstocking tales, Natty Bumppo. The novel's setting on Otsego Lake in central, upstate New York, is the same as that of The Pioneers, the first of the Leatherstocking Tales to be published (1823). The Deerslayer is considered to be the prequel to the rest of the series. Fenimore Cooper begins his work by relating the astonishing advance of civilization in New York State, which is the setting of four of his five Leatherstocking Tales.
Slipcase with chipping to extremities. Slipcase separating at opening. Light staining on slipcase covers, some water staining to top and bottom of slipcase. Binding with light smudging and chipping to spine, small nick at head of spine. Slip case in good+, binding in very good-, interior in near fine condition overall. good+ to near fine. Item #45209
Price: $40.00