COOPER JAMES FENIMORE Autograph Letter Signed to the Boston

Sale 2139 - Lot 216

Price Realized: $ 2,082

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200

COOPER, JAMES FENIMORE. Autograph Letter Signed, to the Boston publisher George Roberts, rejecting the idea of writing a novel because "It would not tally with my notions to publish a novel in the way you mention," and offering other projects. 1 full page, 4to; small tear in left margin, closed tear in right margin repaired, folds. Cooperstown, 22 January 1841

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He rejects the idea of writing a tale of a similar nature to a much earlier one, because he does not know if "it would suit the taste of the majority of readers. I well remember some ladies speaking of Heart as a better story than Imagination, though as I recollect them, the latter is infinitely the best."
"It would not tally with my notions to publish a novel in the way you mention. I could not do it without putting at risk several thousands of dollars, and no paper could pay for such a risk. Nor should I like to publish a novel in this form at all."
"If you are disposed to publish matter that is not a tale, I may offer you some gratis, one of these days, in connection with other subjects, though the distance between us renders communication difficult."