THE HISTORY OF DON QUIXOTE. The Text Edited by J. W. Clark and A Biographical Notice of Cervantes, by T. Teignmouth Shore de [Doré, illus.]; Cervantes Saavedra Miguel - [c. 1870]

London: Cassell, Petter, and Galpin, [c. 1870]. 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 white vellum over green cloth covered boards, the spine with fine gilt tooling in a vertical arts and crafts style, an artistically designed lettering piece of tan morocco gilt inlaid to the vellum of the spine panel, all edges gilt, fine marbled endleaves of tan, black, turquoise and gilt. 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 browning internally as is typical. 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.
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.