BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED 19TH-CENTURY EDITION OF DON QUIXOTE IN ENGLISH, HANDSOMELY BOUND
CERVANTES (LALAUZE, Adolphe, illustrator). The History of the Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha. Edinburgh: William Paterson, 1879-84. Four volumes. Quarto, contemporary three-quarter dark green morocco gilt, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt, uncut and partially unopened.
Later limited illustrated edition of Motteux’s highly esteemed translation of Cervantes’ incomparable work of genius, with 37 etchings by Adolphe Lalauze in triple suite, number 3 of only 50 sets produced of this "imperial octavo" edition, finely printed on Whatman paper and handsomely bound.
"Cervantes' great, ironical, romantic story is written in a style so noble, so nervous, so humane, so branded with reality that, as the wise critic has said, the mere touch and impact of it puts courage into our veins… Not to have ever opened it… is to have missed being present at one of the 'great gestures' of the undying, unconquerable spirit of humanity" (Powys 27). This translation of Cervantes' masterpiece (first published 1605-15) by dramatist Peter Motteux, first published in 1719, has been praised as the greatest version in English (Lowndes, 401); this edition, illustrated with wonderful etchings by Lalauze, has been esteemed as truly beautiful and worthy of bibliophiles' appreciation (Del Río y Rico 526). "The illustrations are of merit… In some of Lalauze's etchings the humorous side of the Don's adventures are pleasantly portrayed, and the fair Spanish ladies in the pictures are daintily drawn" (New York Times). The illustrations are here presented in triple-suite: one a proof, one printed on India paper and mounted, and one on wove paper. Limitation statement in Volume IV. Iconografia de las Ediciones del Quijote (Inglesas) 479. Escuerdo 1238. Bonsoms 1151. Allibone, 1381. See Ashbee 285. Owner ink signature.
Occasional foxing to proof plates only; remaining plates and text quite clean and fine; very minor color restoration to bindings. A desirable set, wonderfully illustrated and handsomely bound.