The history of the navy of the United States of America

Philadelphia: Lea & Blanchard, 1839. FIRST EDITION. With 2 frontispiece maps. Original publisher’s cloth, gilt-stamped spine, rebacked with the original backstrips laid down; new endpapers. An excellent copy from the libraries of Arthur Burgett Benton and Irma Peixotto Sellars with their bookplates. First edition. This is Cooper’s most important non-fiction work, an essential history of the U.S. navy, including naval events that occurred from inception through the War of 1812. This work is recognized as a classic history of the service, and details the navy’s activity from Barbary pirates to the Revolutionary War and beyond.

Provenance: Benton (1858-1927) was one of the leaders of the California Mission revival schools of architecture. He designe part of the Church of the Epiphany, the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Riverside, and the Mary Andrews Clark Memorial Home. Sellars (1881-1964) donated the present volumes to Occidental College.

BAL, 3838; Howes, C-748; Sabin, 16442; see Louras, James Feminore Cooper: a life (2016).