The Bravo. A Venetian Story, James Fenimore Cooper — 1st UK Edition

£575.00

The Bravo. A Venetian Story, James Fenimore Cooper — 1st UK Edition

Name: The Bravo. A Venetian Story, James Fenimore Cooper — 1st UK Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4375
Price: 575.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: London, Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831

Formatting: 3 vols., 12mo, pp. [iv], 292; [ii], 304; [ii], 298.

Condition Report: Good. This three-volume set survives in its original drab boards with purplish cloth backstrips, an increasingly scarce and desirable state for early nineteenth-century fiction. The bindings remain reasonably tight and secure, though the exterior exhibits commensurate wear for its age and delicate publisher's construction. The spines are noticeably sunned, stained, and rubbed, with significant wear to the original printed paper labels; portions of the title text on Volumes II and III are chipped away or completely obscured. The board edges and corners are heavily bumped and worn, exposing the underlying board in several places along the extremities. Internally, the volumes feature intact, uncut text block edges that are naturally age-toned. Despite the external cosmetic wear and tear, the structural integrity of the set justifies its grade, offering an authentic, un-restored example of 1830s publisher's boards.

Catalogue Note: This First UK Edition of The Bravo was issued contemporaneously with the American edition by Carey & Lea. The text was printed by Henry Baylis of Fleet Street.

Notably, this set is preserved in its original publisher's drab boards with printed paper spine labels, a primary and highly fragile binding state. During the nineteenth century, it was common practice for lending libraries and private collectors to discard these temporary bindings and rebind multi-volume novels in sturdier half-calf or morocco leathers. Consequently, finding an early Cooper three-decker in its original, un-restored boards, complete with its uncut text block edges, is a notable occurrence for the discerning collector.

Marking a striking departure from his iconic American frontier tales, James Fenimore Cooper's The Bravo is the first of his three European novels. Set against the gothic and shadowed backdrop of the Venetian Republic, the narrative strips away the romantic veneer of Venice to expose a corrupt, oligarchic regime ruled by the secretive Council of Three. The story follows Jacopo Frontoni, a man coerced through insidious blackmail into serving as a state assassin, a "bravo." As political intrigue, murder, and ill-fated romance intertwine, Cooper delivers a biting critique of institutional tyranny and a gripping exploration of liberty, masked beneath the glittering waters and carnival masks of eighteenth-century Venice.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: James Fenimore Cooper

Book Publisher: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 900

Book Publication Year: 1831

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.