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CERVANTES DE SAAVEDRA, Miguel : LIFE AND EXPLOITS of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote

CERVANTES DE SAAVEDRA, Miguel. THE LIFE AND EXPLOITS OF THE INGENIOUS GENTLEMAN DON QUIXOTE DE LA MANCHA. Translated from the Original Spanish by Charles Jarvis, Esq; London, J. & R. Tonson and R. Dodsley, 1742. Two quarto volumes. (i)-(xxiv)(8)(xxv)-xxxii,(i)-(viii)90,(14)355 pp.; i- xii,388 pp. Second issue, with "Supplement to the Translator's Preface," on the origin of books of chivalry, by Wiliam Warburton, inserted after I.xxiv. Illustrated with a portrait of Cervantes and 68 copperplate illustrations, drawn by John Vanderbank and engraved by Gerard Vander Gucht, from a Spanish-language Tonson edition of 1738 (Lord Carteret's edition - the first deluxe edition ever printed, and the first edition in Spanish published in England) with new page labels. Vanderbank, a popular portraitist, 37 of whose works are in the National Portrait Gallery, studied with Godfrey Kneller. The choice of a portraitist becomes clear in the "Advertisement concerning the Prints," where John Oldfield explains the restrained aesthetic, hinging on facial expression rather than action, which went into their planning. The portrait of Cervantes by G. Kent, engraved by George Vertue, is opposite the first page of the 90-page "Life of Michael de Cervantes Saavedra" (dated 1738) in Volume I. Ten engraved headpieces and initials. Text and illustrations are clean but for some occasional light foxing or soiling. Recently bound to period in quarter calf, with gilt rules and red and green labels on spine, and marbled paper boards. This is a handsome copy of a lavishly illustrated edition of the Spanish classic. $3750.00. Illustr: Vanderbank, John

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