The Spy, James Fenimore Cooper

£100.00

The Spy, James Fenimore Cooper

Name: The Spy, James Fenimore Cooper
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 5870
Price: 100.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£100.00

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Publication: Liverpool, A. C. Baynes, 1831.

Formatting: 12mo, pp. 396.

Condition Report: Fair. Bound in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, the volume has sustained significant wear typical of its age. The spine leather is desiccated and heavily rubbed, with the upper joint deeply cracked and tender. There is notable chipping to the head and foot of the spine, which has resulted in the partial loss of the leather title label and gilt tooling. The marbled boards are scuffed, and the corners are bumped and worn through to the underlying board. Internally, the text block remains complete with untrimmed edges. The pages exhibit consistent age-toning and moderate foxing, which is most pronounced on the preliminary leaves, the engraved frontispiece, and the printed title page. Despite the external wear, fragile joints, and surface abrasions, the binding currently remains intact.

Catalogue Note: This 1831 edition of James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, The Spy: A Tale of the Neutral Ground, was issued as a reissue by A. C. Baynes of Liverpool, in conjunction with W. Baynes of London and J. Richardson. Originally published in 1821, Cooper's second novel became one of the earliest successful American historical romances, setting a precedent for American fiction on the international stage.

This particular printing features a charming engraved frontispiece and an engraved secondary title page, underscoring its transatlantic appeal during the early nineteenth century. This Liverpool imprint is notably scarce in commerce; institutional holdings are similarly sparse, with few recorded copies in major North American repositories. It offers an intriguing variant for collectors of early American literature published for the British market.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of the American Revolutionary War, The Spy follows the perilous exploits of Harvey Birch, a seemingly humble peddler operating in the 'Neutral Ground' of Westchester County, New York. Secretly serving as a spy for George Washington, Birch navigates a treacherous landscape of shifting loyalties, marauding militias, and British forces, constantly risking capture and execution. James Fenimore Cooper's thrilling narrative masterfully weaves espionage, romance, and historical action, creating one of the earliest and most enduring classics of American historical fiction.

Book Condition: Fair

Book Authors: James Fenimore Cooper

Book Publisher: A. C. Baynes

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Fiction

Genre: Historical Fiction

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 396

Book Publication Year: 1831

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Half Calf

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Liverpool, 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.