Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha

Bruxelles: Roger Velpius, Huberto Antonio, 1607. El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles: Roger Velpius, Huberto Antonio, 1607.

Full Description:

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de. El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles: Roger Velpius, 1607.

[Together with]

Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Cavallero Don Quixote de la Mancha. Bruxelles: Huberto Antonio, 1616.

First Brussels edition of both volumes. The second volume is also the second overall edition. Two small octavo volumes (6 3/8 x 3 3/4 inches; 161 x 95 mm). [24], 592, [8]; [16], 687, [1, blank] pp. With engraved head and tail pieces. Engraved and historiated initials. This edition is usually sold individually, and not as a set. In fact, other than this copy, the last copy of both volumes being sold together at auction was at Sotheby's in 1953. The second volume is the first edition published outside of Spain. and the "Velpius's edition, which introduced the text to Northern Europe, is based on Cuedra's second (with many misprints and other textual infelicities corrected)."

Uniformly bound in full modern calf, each volume with two spine labels. Spines lettered in gilt. All edges speckled red and top edges dyed brown. Title-page to volume I is backed, with backing being old. Some mild dampstaining scattered throughout. A minor amount of marginal worming to the last 80 pages of volume I, not affecting text. Volume II with a small tear to the corner of leaf F4, just barely touching a letter, leaf MM2, with small corner tear, not affecting text and a small hole to leaf Ss2, affecting just a few letters. Two previous owner's bookplates to front pastedown of each volume, one of which is an armorial bookplate for Christ College, Oxford University. Endpapers with small manuscript shelfmarks crossed out and "Duplic" in old ink. Overall a very good copy of this edition which is usually sold individually and not both volumes together.

"Ruiz notes that this edition was the most finely printed of the early versions to date. Don Quixote won immediate fame when first printed in 1605 for its ‘variety, liveliness, and gibes at the famous.' Its subdued pathos and universal humanity have assured it a place as ‘one of those universal works which are read by all ages at all times' (PMM). It quickly went through numerous editions, translations, and piracies. This edition [of first part] is the seventh overall—all early editions are rare. Velpius's edition, which introduced the text to Northern Europe, is based on Cuedra's second (with many misprints and other textual infelicities corrected)." (Christies).

"It is often said that ‘Don Quixote' was at first received coldly. The facts show just the contrary. No sooner was it in the hands of the public than preparations were made to issue pirated editions at Lisbon and Valencia, and to bring out a second edition with the additional rights for Aragon and Portugal... ‘Don Quixote' had been growing in favour, and its author's name was now known beyond the Pyrenees. In 1607 an edition was printed at Brussels." (from "Translators Preface" to the 1922 edition of John Ormsby's translation of Don Quixote)

Palau 51981. PMM 111. Ruiz 7.

HBS 68842.

$100,000.