The History and Adventures of the Renowned Don Quixote. Four volumes complete.
Dublin: John Chambers, 1796. Hardcover. This is John Chamber's Dublin subscribers' edition, produced to the highest standards, printed on fine wove paper and illustrated with copper plate engravings "by the first masters, from the designs of the Madrid Royal Academy". Chambers states on the Dedication page that this is "an endeavour to improve the art of printing in Ireland" and dedicates the work to "the Provost, Fellows and Scholars of Trinity College, Dublin". The frontispiece is a Bartolozzi portrait of Cervantes writing at his desk. The lengthy subscribers list includes over 300 names, beginning with Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, John Jeffries, Earl Camden.
Tobias Smollett's is considered an excellent period translation of 'Don Quixote'; he was a near contemporary of Quixote and the author of numerous popular novels. His translation was one of the principal versions in which 'Don Quixote' was introduced to several generations of English readers.
The set in contemporary dark brown mottled calf boards, handsomely rebacked with elaborate gilt designs in 5 spine compartments and contrasting spine labels, with gilt inner and outer dentelles and gilt decorated foredges, now a very attractive fine binding. We would estimate the reback to have been completed in the early 1900s. A beautiful hand marbled paper has been used for the end papers.
Vol I, engraved portrait frontispiece by Bartolozzi, [ii], half title, [ii], title page, [ii], dedication page, Subscribers list [x], Life of Cervantes [xxix] , [i], translator's aim, preface [x], 407pp, 6 copper engraved plates.
Vol II, 459pp, 5 engraved plates, neat previous owner name in ink (William Miller 1838) at Part I Book IV, B.
Vol III, engraved frontispiece, xiii, 466pp, 4 engraved plates,
Vol IV, 459pp, 5 engraved plates. The binding in very good condition. Internally, the first fasicle of Vol I a bit loose; the volumes with some fox spotting to margins of plates; Vol IV with some faint tide marks at plates. OCLC: 877049220 records 2 copies. Very good condition. Item #22365
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