The Cooper Vignettes

5RR F.O.C. Darley, New York: James G. Gregory, 1862.

Notes

The Cooper Vignettes by F.O.C. Darley (Frederick Oakes Cooper Darley) is a collection of illustrations and artworks that accompany the works of James Fenimore Cooper, a prominent 19th-century American novelist known for his frontier tales, particularly The Last of the Mohicans and The Deerslayer. The vignettes, or small illustrations, were created by Darley to accompany the works of Cooper, particularly in later editions, bringing the vivid scenes of Cooper's stories to life visually.

F.O.C. Darley was known for his exceptional ability to capture the spirit and drama of American landscapes, characters, and historical moments. His illustrations often focus on key moments of action, adventure, and the relationships between characters and nature, which are central themes in Cooper's novels. By pairing Darley's illustrations with Cooper's prose, The Cooper Vignettes serve to enhance the reader’s experience, making the stories of early American frontier life more engaging. Darley's works are considered some of the most iconic visual representations of Cooper’s characters, particularly in the 19th century, helping to establish Cooper's novels as enduring pieces of American literary and cultural heritage.

Description

Full brown crushed Morocco, 15 inches tall. Bound by Rivière with gilt raised bands, exceptionally fine gilt tooling along the panels and a sequence of gilt rolls framing the boards. Gilt dentelles and all edges gilt. Engraved portrait and title page with 62 additional engravings illustrating the novels of James Fenimore Cooper. with some original paper wraps bound in. Marbled endpapers. Some superficial scratching and scuffs to lower and upper boards. Some minimal foxing along fore edge of some pages throughout. Minimal bumping to the corners. Very fine condition overall.