Books

First edition of the Jervas translation. Two volume set. Contemporary mottled calf, five raised bands, gilt decorated compartments, titles in gilt to the spine. Bound with: 'The life of Michael de Cervantes Saavedra. Written by Don Gregorio Mayáns and Sisár' (the first English translation 1738); 'A supplement to the translator's preface' more commonly know as 'A dissertation on the origin of books of chivalry' by William Warburton; 'Advertisment concerning the Prints' by John Oldfield. Illustrated with a frontispiece and 67 copper plates engraved by Gerard van der Gucht from drawings by John Vanderbank and an additional frontispiece engraved by George Virtue after a drawing by G. Kent. Entirely original with no repairs or restoration, hinges fairly strong given the age of these two volumes. Pages and engravings notably clean and bright, very few signs of foxing or handling marks. A Very Good set. More photographs can be supplied on request

"Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes is a seminal work in Western literature, often regarded as the first modern novel. Published in two parts, the first in 1605 and the second in 1615, it tells the story of Alonso Quixano, a middle-aged gentleman from the region of La Mancha in central Spain. Obsessed with the chivalric romances of the Middle Ages, he loses his sanity and decides to become a knight-errant, renaming himself Don Quixote. He chooses a simple farmer, Sancho Panza, as his squire, promising him the governorship of an island. The duo embarks on a series of adventures, with Don Quixote seeking to right wrongs and bring justice to the world, driven by his absurdly outdated moral code and understanding of reality. The novel is famous for its satirical examination of the discrepancy between Quixote's fantasy world and the actual world of 17th-century Spain. This theme is most famously illustrated in the episode where Don Quixote fights windmills, mistaking them for giant monsters. Throughout their journeys, the pair encounters thieves, prostitutes, a chain gang, and various other characters, often causing more harm than good in their attempts to help. "Don Quixote" explores themes of truth and justice, the transition from the old world to the new, and the idea of madness versus sanity. Cervantes employs a narrative structure that includes stories within stories, allowing him to critique the social and literary conventions of his time. The novel has had a profound influence on the development of prose fiction and is considered a precursor to the modern novel. It is celebrated for its humor, moral integrity, and its deep humanity, offering a complex reflection on the nature of reality and the importance of empathy.

The first edition of 'Don Quixote' was published in two volumes in 1605 and 1615. It is characterized by the unique intricacies of 17th-century printing, with detailed title pages and specific typesetting quirks.