Cooper, James Fenimore / Selenka, Johann Jakob (binder). The Pioneers, or the sources of the Sasquehanna. A Descriptive Tale. Paris, A. & W. Galignani, 1825. 
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3 volumes in 12mo (107 x 105 mm), printed on better paper. Burgundy-red morocco of c. 1840, profusely gilt and inlaid, covers framed by a broad gilt fillet, a thin silvery-gilt fillet and a flower roll connecting the large corner pieces à la cathédrale gilt in a silvery shade and inlaid in rose and light-green, in centres large crowned coat of arms gilt, inlaid in red, green and blue, surrounded by the Order of the Guelphs (heraldic device: Nec aspera terrent) and the collar of the Order of the Garter (device: Honi soit qui mal y pense); spine raised on four broad half bands, second and fourth compartment gilt-lettered, the others finely gilt on pointillé ground; edges of boards and turn-ins gilt; light-green paper on liners and endleaves; edges gilt. Remarkably attractive multicoloured bookplate of Duke William.
A magnificent Romantic multicoloured inlaid morocco binding for Duke William of Brunswick by the famous court binder Johann Jakob Selenka (1801-1871). He was admitted in 1824 to the Brunswick guild of bookbinders. In 1839 he became court binder of the bibliophile Duke William of Brunswick and Lüneburg (1806-1884) for whom he executed exceptional bindings. He was without doubt one of the most gifted and creative German binders of his period. Characteristic for his brilliantly designed and executed bindings is the use of gilding in different hues: on our item the Gothic corner pieces and the connecting flower roll are impressed with silvery gold, whereas the gilding of the coat of arms and of the spine are tooled with a more reddish gold leaf. Although unsigned (as usual), the binding can be attributed with certainty to Selenka because of the unique style, the used tools (found also on signed books) and the great technical accomplishment. More information (and the description of “The Spy”, the second book published by Cooper) can be found in REH Special List 10 Johann Jakob Selenka / Celebrated Court Binder for Duke William of Brunswick. Early edition and first on the European Continent. It is the first published of the five famous novels, known as the "Leatherstocking Tales" by J. F. Cooper (1789-1851). His Tales were inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels. The Pioneers were first published by Ch. Wiley, New York, in 1823. The protagonist and hero Nathaniel “Natty” Bumppo, also called Leather-Stocking, was a frontiersman, guide, hunter and patriot living in the wilderness. The main theme is the conflict between nature and civilization. Cooper was the first major American novelist, the first American to live from his writing and the first to incorporate African-American and native Indian in his stories. The five Leatherstocking Tales had a worldwide success. – In a striking binding, probably the most spectacular "The Pioneers" has ever been bound in, and with a distinguished provenance. In perfect condition. Ref.: For other Selenka bindings see Martin Breslauer Inc., cat. 108, nos. 43-47, and cat.110, no. 199; M. v. Arnim, OSS-Katalog, Europäische Einbandkunst, p. 187.
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Sachgebiete: Einbände, Indigene Kulturen, Literatur bis ca. 1900, Nordamerika
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