The Prairie, by J. Fenimore Cooper, (Decorative Binding), Undated (c. 1893) 🌾📜🏞️

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a reprint edition of "The Prairie, A Tale" by J. Fenimore Cooper. This volume, published by John W. Lovell Company, has a decorative pictorial binding and a handwritten inscription from Christmas 1893.

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2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

"The Prairie" is the final installment of the Leatherstocking Tales. The narrative follows the frontiersman Natty Bumppo as he journeys westward. The story explores the clash of cultures between settlers, Native American tribes, and individuals on the frontier. The book reflects on the passing of a simpler way of life.

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3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️

James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and influential American writer. He is known for his Leatherstocking Tales, which include "The Last of the Mohicans" and "The Pioneers." Cooper is a pioneer of American literature, having created the character of Natty Bumppo.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

The publication of this book in the late 19th century places it in an era when classic American literature was widely reprinted for a mass readership. The publisher, John W. Lovell Company, was known for producing affordable editions with decorative bindings.

The inscription, dated 1893, provides a tangible link to the book's time, showing its life as a cherished holiday gift during a period when classic fiction was a staple of the American home.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This vintage edition of "The Prairie" is a fine item for enthusiasts of classic American literature and for those looking to add an attractive volume to a home library. Its value is in its enduring literary and aesthetic appeal. The book's decorative pictorial binding is a charming example of late-19th-century book art.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

This vintage edition of "The Prairie" is a fine item for collectors. Its value is not in its rarity as a Reprint but in its enduring literary and aesthetic appeal. The book's decorative pictorial binding is an example of late-19th-century book art. The personal inscription adds a small, unique piece of provenance.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This book is a used hardcover edition with a decorative pictorial binding.

• The binding shows visible wear consistent with its age, including rubbing, scuffing, and some loss of the original finish, particularly on the spine and edges.

• The pages are age-toned but remain clear and legible.

• A handwritten inscription is on the front endpaper.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• "The Prairie" is the final installment of the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring the frontiersman Natty Bumppo.

• The book was published by John W. Lovell Company, a publisher known for producing affordable editions with decorative bindings.

• The personal inscription, from "Soriee" to "Dwight", is dated Christmas 1893.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Author: J. Fenimore Cooper

• Publication Date: Undated (c. 1893)

• Edition: Reprint

• Publisher: John W. Lovell Company, United States Book Company

• Place of Publication: New York

• Illustrator(s): None

• Unique Provenance: "Dwight from Soriee" inscription.

• Book Cover Type: Hardcover with decorative pictorial binding.

• Genre: Classic Fiction, Americana, Historical Fiction.

• Transcription: This book has a handwritten inscription on the front endpaper, which reads: “Dwight from Soriee. Merry Xmas, Greetings, 1893.”