The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote. Translated from the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. To Which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author’s Life. By T. Smollett, M. D. 4 vols (set)

Description

Original speckled calf, gilt roll framing boards. Gilt decor forming compartments with floral and feather motifs to spines. One red gilt and one black gilt label per spine. Gilt decor to board edges and turn ins. 8vos (14.4 x 22.6cm). Front board of vol. I starting over front hinge from centre board to top, and over rear hinge at top. Vol. II just starting over top rear hinge and vol. III over top front hinge. Small area of abrasion to front board of vol. IV (c. 2x1cm). Mild wear to extremities. Spines slightly sunned. All edges yellow. Hinges of vol. I slightly tender. Original marbled endpapers, cracked at gutters in vol. IV. Half titles to all vols; frontis to vols II and IV. Vol, with the frontis port to vol. I by Bartolozzi. I half title retains printed border with directions to the binder: ‘it is requested (in order to preserve the margins) that in Binding these Volumes they may not be cut less than the Size described by these lines’. Ink marking to blank front endpage and half title of vol. II. Occasional mild foxing. Band of spotting to vol. I, p. 7. Illustrated with copper engravings ‘by the first masters, from the designs of the Madrid Royal Academy, &c.’ (t.p.): 6 plates (exc. frontis) to vol. I; 5 to vol. II; 4 (exc. frontis) to vol. III; 5 to vol. IV. Smollett’s translation of Cervantes was first published in 1755; this Dublin edition, with an extensive subscribers’ list, was dedicated by the publisher to the Provost, Fellows, and scholars of Trinity College Dublin, ‘as an endeavour to improve the art of printing in Ireland’. Chambers was ‘probably the finest of all the printers in Dublin of this period’ (Phillips, quoted in DIB). A handsome set. ESTC N61306. Robust packaging. Tracking can be added to overseas orders on request.