The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper, Illustrated by N. C. Wyeth, 1947

Cooper, James Fenimore. The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1947. Illustrated by N.C. Wyeth. In original hardcover boards with illustrated front covers, gilt stamped titles to spine, pictorial endpaper, and illustrations throughout. 

Presented is James Fenimore Cooper’s The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757. First published in 1826, this later 1947 edition is creatively illustrated by famed 20th century artist and illustrator, N. C. Wyeth. The book was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. The book is presented in its original black hardcover boards with gilt stamped titles on the spine, a full color front paste-down illustration, illustrated endpapers, and nine full color illustrations by Wyeth throughout. 

The historical novel is set in 1757 during the French and Indian War.  The book takes place in the upper New York state wilderness, close to where James Fenimore Cooper grew up. The book details the transport of the two daughters of a Colonel to Fort William Henry. Among the caravan guarding the daughters are a frontiersman, a Major in the British army, a teacher, and Chingachgook and Uncas, the latter two Native Americans being the novel's title characters. The characters are sometimes seen as a microcosm of the budding American society. Cooper’s story influenced popular opinion about Native Americans and the frontier territory in the United States during that time.

The novel was first published in 1826 by Carey & Lea, of Philadelphia. According to Susan Cooper, its success was "greater than that of any previous book from the same pen" and "in Europe, the book produced quite a startling effect." Cooper's novels were popular in their day, but contemporary and subsequent 19th-century reviewers were often critical, or dismissive of his works. Over time, the book grew to be regarded by some as the first “Great American Novel.” 

Newell Convers Wyeth is considered one of America's greatest illustrators. He was the pupil of artist Howard Pyle and created over 3,000 paintings over his lifetime. He also illustrated many books, primarily for publisher Charles Scribner's Sons, which accelerated his career. Wyeth worked primarily as a realist painter.

CONDITION: 

Good condition overall. Hardcover black boards with full page illustrated front cover, gilt stamped titles to spine, red bottom edge, but other edges unmarked. Illustrated pictorial endpapers. Nine full color illustrations throughout. Book is clean inside, boards are very healthy with only light bumping. 370 pp. 9 3/8" H x 7" W x 1 1/4" D.