Library Wish Lists: One

Putting together "complete" collections, whether of the works of a given author or on a given subject, takes plenty of time, plenty of money, and no little serendipity. Every collector owes something or other to that good friend or acquaintance who stumbles on an item the collector needs, takes a chance, and obtains for the collector the missing item.

Libraries are no exception, and this one is fortunate in having a large number of good friends who can act as our eyes and ears in bookshops, in the homes of others, or even in their own libraries. We propose to try in the Newsletter to take advantage of your abilities by spelling out some of the things we need. The first list, quite short, itemizes all of the first editions of James Fenimore Cooper which we lack. We don't expect many of you to have Tales for Fifteen (1823) lying about--it's very rare indeed--but not all of the following items are, and there's none we wouldn't be eager to add:

• The Spy. New York, 1821, 2 vols.
• Tales for Fifteen. New York, 1823.
• Contributions for the Poles. (Paris, 1831). Broadside.
• Letter . . . to Gen. Lafayette. Paris, 1831.
• The Chronicles of Cooperstown. Cooperstown, 1838.
• Le Mouchoir; an Autobiographical Romance. New York, 1843.
• The Battle of Lake Erie. Cooperstown, 1843.
• Ned Myers. Philadelphia, 1843.
• The Cruise of the Somers. New York, 1844.
• New York. New York, 1930.
• The Lake Gun. New York, 1932.