Description:

J. Fenimore Cooper 2x Signed 3rd Person ALS Mentioning Arctic Explorer

A 1p autograph letter twice signed in the third person by American writer James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), the first time as "Mr Fenimore Cooper" in the first line, and the second time as "Mr. C" in an edit made to the fifth line. Friday morning, n.d. but probably ca. 1826-1828. Written at Hôtel Jumilhac, the Coopers' residence at No. 12, Rue Saint Maur in Paris, France. Inscribed on a trimmed paper fragment tipped into a larger cream-colored mount. Expected paper folds, and a few scattered pen and pencil inscriptions recto and verso, else near fine. The letter measures 4.5" x 5.375" while the overall size of the mount is 4.75" x 5.5."

Cooper wrote this note to an unknown couple named Mr. and Mrs. Goldsnow (?), regretfully declining a dinner invitation.

He wrote in full:

"Mr Fenimore Cooper regrets that a previous engagement prevents him from accepting the polite invitation of Mr and Mrs Goldsnow for dinner on Monday night. In addition to the reason he has to regret that he can not make a proper return to the politeness of Mr and Mrs Goldsnow, Mr C. is sorry that he must lose the pleasure of Capt: Sabine's company, a gentleman, with whose merit he has long been familiar, and with whom he has already had the pleasure of forming a slight acquaintance.

Friday. morning.
Rue St. Maur. No 12. Faub. St. Ger."

Cooper mentions one "Capt: Sabine" in the letter. This was the British scientific officer Edward Sabine (1788-1883), who had taken part in the Arctic expedition of Lieutenant William Edward Parry (1790-1855) aboard the "H.M.S. Hecla" in 1819-1820. The expedition mapped parts of northwestern Canada and took magnetic measurements. A reference to dining with Sabine can be found in the correspondence of Susan de Lancey Cooper, Cooper's wife.

Cooper and his family lived in Europe between 1826-1833, residing in England, France, Switzerland, and Italy. He lived at the Hôtel Jumilhac, located at No. 12, Rue Saint Maur in the 11th arrondissement of Paris, France during two major periods: between August 1826 - May 1827; and in June and July 1828.

Cooper is widely recognized as America’s first major novelist. He explored aspects of the newly forged American identity, including character types, settings, and situations. His “Leatherstocking Tales,” a series of five novels that span the lifetime of their hero, Hawkeye, or Natty Bumppo, were released over a twenty-year period, between 1823 and 1841. In these works, Cooper examined the concepts of the frontier, progress, and the “noble savage.”

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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