HISTORY AND ADVENTURES OF THE RENOWNED DON QUIXOTE. Translated from the Spanish...To which is prefixed, Some Account of the Author's Life. By T[obias] Smollett, M.D. by Cervantes Saavedra Miguel de - 1765

London: for T. Osborne, et al., 1765. 4 volumes. The third edition overall, and the second octavo edition, of Smollett's fine translation, corrected. With 28 copperplates after Hayman, elegantly engraved. 8vo, in attractive antique three-quarter calf over marbled boards, the spines very attractively and fully gilt paneled and tooled with central gilt floral devices between gilt stippled raised bands, two compartments with contrasting red and green morocco labels gilt ruled and lettered, one of which is likely a closely matching replacement, endpapers marbled. xl, 293; 314, 331, 322 pp. A handsome set in quite pleasing condition. The antique bindings with a little expected age or rubbing to the leather but with nice strong hinges, sound and sturdy, the textblock lightly aged, clean and unspotted and still quite fresh, the plates all present and fine. A HANDSOME EARLY SET OF SMOLLETT'S CERVANTES, though called the third edition this is more accurately a reprint of the second, which was the first to be printed in this format. Smollett's is one of the best-known translations of the work and here it is accompanied by a wonderful collection of illustrations. The preliminary matter in the first volume contains a long biography of Cervantes written by Smollett.
DON QUIXOTE ranks among the greatest literary works of Western Civilization. "What had begun as a simple satire on the tedious chivalric romances of the time broadened into a sweeping panorama of Spanish society. It was for this, the liveliness, and the gibes at the famous, which one it instant fame. Its larger claims, the subdued pathos, its universal humanity, were slower to be appreciated. But within months Don Quixote and Sancho Panza had become legendary...Don Quixote is one of those universal works which are read by all ages at all times, and there are very few who have not at one time or another felt themselves to be Don Quixote confronting the windmills..." (PMM).
An appealing set of this masterwork in one of its best and most well known English translations.