Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
This is a mid-century printing of James Fenimore Cooper's classic 1826 frontier novel, featuring the legendary color illustrations of N. C. Wyeth. Originally commissioned by Scribner's in 1919, Wyeth's dramatic, romanticized paintings redefined how generations of readers visualized the American wilderness and its early inhabitants.
Story
In 1919, publisher Charles Scribner's Sons hired N. C. Wyeth to illustrate Cooper's classic. Wyeth actually traveled to the Adirondacks to paint the landscapes on-site, capturing the dramatic play of light and shadow that made this edition a masterpiece.
Maker / Origin
Newell Convers Wyeth (1882–1945) was one of America's greatest illustrators and the patriarch of the famous Wyeth artistic dynasty. A student of Howard Pyle, he created over 3,000 paintings and illustrated 112 books, with his Scribner's Classics series being his most enduring legacy.
Condition & Value
The book is in good, clean condition with bright interior plates. There is minor shelf wear to the edges of the cloth binding, a thrift store price sticker on the front cover illustration, and a pencil notation 'c2' on the copyright page. The lack of a dust jacket reduces the value by about 50%.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.