THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE. The Text Edited by J. W. Clark and A Biographical Notice of Cervantes, by T. Teignmouth Shore

A very early issue of this wonderfully illustrated Cervantes. With 118 spectacular illustrations by by Gustave Doré. Folio (30 x 24 cm), very handsomely bound in three-quarter dark cordovan morocco over marbled paper covered boards, the spine with raised bands gilt ruled and elaborately decorated in gilt, compartments of the spine with decorated panels tooled in blind, lettered in gilt in one compartment, fine feathered and marbled endleaves of red, blue and white. xxviii, 737 pp. A very handsome and sturdy copy, as fine and fresh and bright, the binding is very strong and well preserved, beautiful and of fine craftsmanship, some light spotting to the initial and end blanks as is typical, internally fresh and clean.

Edizione: an unusually handsome copy. very scarce in such well preserved condition. gustave doré was one of the greatest illustrators of his day. he was born in strassburg in 1832. in 1848, he moved to paris where “his facility as a draughtsman was extraordinary.” he was a prolific worker and his subjects were usually religious or historical. he died in january of 1883. <br> his grand and magnificent style is a perfect complement for cervantes heroic tale. this great tome presents one of our favorite printings of the spanish classic and, because of the weight of the text block, is usually found broken and loose. this copy is as sturdy as one could hope for and is especially handsome as well.