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Author: [Cooper, James Fenimore]
Title: Home as Found
Place Published: Philadelphia
Publisher:Lea & Blanchard
Date Published: 1838
Description:

2 volumes. [2], v, [1], 7-239; 253 pp. 18x11 cm (7x4¼"), period speckled calf, spines tooled in gilt, morocco lettering pieces. First Edition, First issue.

Novel by James Fenimore Cooper, which takes place in the fictional town of Templeton, which is modeled after the Village of Cooperstown (home to the baseball hall of fame), and appropriately noteworthy for an early description of playing "a game of ball". This is the first issue, with "Notice to the Public" leaf in Vol. I apologizing for the poor quality of paper. This copy has been bound in leather with spine labels designating it as "Novels & Tales New Series 7 and 8."  Regular copies, whether first or second issue, were bound in muslin. BAL 3884. Early ownership signatures on front endpapers.

Vol. I, pp. 174-178  - "a party of apprentice-boys were seen coolly making their arrangements to amuse themselves with a game of ball, on the lawn directly in front of the house...", followed by a lengthy discussion of the appropriateness of the venue, "in my opinion, the street would be a much better place to play ball than this lawn... There are so many fences hereabouts... the village  trustees say there shall be no ball-playing in the street, but I conclude you don't much mind what they think or threaten..."

Slight rubbing to cover edges, some darkening and light foxing within; very good.