Second Part of The History of the Valorous and Witty Knight-Errant, Don Quixote of the Mancha.

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de.

$20,000.00

Item Number: 145724

London: Printed for Edward Blount, 1620.

First edition of the second part of Cervantes’ masterpiece in English. Oblong duodecimo, bound in half leather over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, black and green morocco spine labels. In near fine condition, lacking the engraved title with several words faintly missing on p. 160 [an original printing flaw], slight trimming to the bottom lines of the first signature, and a bookplate to the front pastedown. An exceptional presentation.

Often cited as the first modern novel, Cervantes' masterpiece Don Quixote remains not only the most influential work of literature to emerge from the Spanish Golden Age, but the most important work in the entire Spanish literary canon. First published in 1605, Don Quixote gained immediate popularity in Spain for its "variety, liveliness, and gibes at the famous" while Cervantes' universal portrayal of the human condition has cemented its status as "one of those universal works which are read by all ages at all times" (PMM). The tale of a man so entranced by reading about chivalrous romantic ideals in books that he decides to become a knight-errant himself, Don Quixote has been and will remain an incredible influence for writers across the world.