El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote De La Mancha.. Miguel De Cervántes.. Don Joaquin Ibarra. 1780

Cervantes Miguel (de) (1547 - 1616). El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha compuesto por Miguel de Cervántes Saavedra. Nueva edicion corregida por la Academia Española. En Madrid per Don Joaquin Ibarra Impressor de Cámara de S.M. Y de la Real Academia. 1780

First edition

First edition of this magnificent printing of Cervantes' masterpiece, published by the Royal Academy of Madrid and regarded as one of the greatest monuments of Spanish typography. 4 volumes, quarto (11,46×8,70in), large-paper copy, with 4 engraved title pages, portrait of Cervantes, engraved ornamental initials and head- and tailpieces, 31 engraved plates after designs by Carnicero, Barranco, Brunette, Del Castillo, Ferro, and Gil, engraved by Ballester, Barcelon, Fabregat, Gil, Mol, Muntaner, Salvador y Carmona, and Selma, together with a folding engraved map. Contemporary mottled black morocco binding, richly gilt spines with raised bands dividing each spine into six compartments; the second and third compartments lettered in gilt, the remaining compartments decorated with gilt floral tools. Gilt edges, gilt inner dentelles, and marbled endpapers.

4° (11,46×8,70in). Four volumes

Private collection

Palau 52024; Cohen-De Ricci 218-19 "Magnifique édition comme typographie et comme ornamentation"

Restoration to the spines of Volumes I, III, and IV, with some repairs to the boards; occasional foxing. A genuine, well-preserved copy.