Excursions in Switzerland

Paris: Baudry's European Library, 1836. Quarter Calf. Good. 8vo - over 7¾. xii, 323 pp. Organized as series of letters, 30 in all, which was a common structure for travel writing during the early 19th century. Here the already world famous American novelist -- the first to achieve such renown -- sets his acute eye on Switzerland, which was becoming one of the most popular countries on the Grand Tour by American and English travelers with the new found appreciation of the Alps and the development of mountain-climbing as a sport. Because of Cooper's observational skills, this work can be treated as a primary source for aspects of Swiss culture and society at the time, as it was a good supplement to the early travel guides, which this, strictly speaking, was not, for such travelers. Quarter calf over blue marbled boards. Rubbing and soilage to boards. Binding still tight. Marbled endpapers. Some light foxing and soilage but generally clean. A good copy.