The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. London: The Folio Society, 1995. Second printing, 1997. Translated from the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, to which is prefixed, some account of the author’s life, by T. Smollett MD, introduction by Robin Chapman, illustrations by Quentin Blake. 252 × 162 × 52 mm. Pp. [1–2], [i–iv] v–xxxix [xl], 1–768 [769–774]: [16] leaves of two-colour ‘plates’. Type: Ehrhardt. Printed and bound by Cambridge University Press. Full yellow cloth with a design in dark brown by Blake; dark brown endleaves. Dark brown slip case with lettering in gold by Blake.

Cervantes’s work was first published in Spanish in two parts in 1605 and 1615, and was translated into many languages, including English, during the following 20 years. Smollett’s translation appeared in 1755, with a revised edition (followed here) in 1770. The ‘plates’ are printed in pink and black, and Blake has also supplied a frontispiece and eight head- and tail-pieces, printed in the same colours. The text and illustrations combine very effectively to make this among the most attractive books of the period.

A very good copy, binding square and tight, pages clean and uninscribed with the exception of a few creases to a handful of pages (please see last photo). Housed in a very good slipcase with a shallow scratch to one panel and a small rubbed spot.