Books

London: T. Cadell and W. Davies. Printed by W. Bulmer and Co, 1818. First Edition Thus (First Smirke edition). Half Calf. Marbled paper pasedown on boards. Very Good. Smirke, Robert. Lovely four volume set of classic, and first appearance in book form of Smirke's illustrations of such. 8vo. 21.5 by 13 cm. lxxxiv, 409; [8], 395; xiii, [1], 432; vi, 508 pp. Illustrations collate complete. 24 copper engraved plates not part of pagination; illustrated headpiece and endpiece vignettes are of course part of pagination. Calf has scattered rubbed spots, but it still has a lustre and presence, and the two spine labels per volume, one for the title, the other for the volume number, are in contrasting colors and add to the elegance of the set. Scattered foxing throughout, generally heavier on the engraved plates. Most leaves little affected, with no or the most minimal of light foxing, but there are leaves here and there more seriously affected. Notwithstanding this issue, which we believe…

"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a series of adventures, with Don Quixote seeking to right wrongs and bring justice to the world, driven by his absurdly outdated moral code and understanding of reality.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.