CERVÁNTES SAAVEDRA, MIGUEL DE | El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha … Nueva Edicion corrigida por la Real Academia Española. Madrid: Por Don Joaquin Ibarra Impresor de Cámera de S. M. y de la Real Academia, 1780

CERVÁNTES SAAVEDRA, MIGUEL DE

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha … Nueva Edicion corrigida por la Real Academia Española. Madrid: Por Don Joaquin Ibarra Impresor de Cámera de S. M. y de la Real Academia, 1780

4 volumes, 4to (11 7/8 x 8 3/4 in.; 302 x 222 mm). 4 engraved additional titles after Antonio Carnicero by Fernando Selma, engraved portrait of the author, 31 engraved plates after Barranco, Brunette, Carnicero, Del Castillo, Ferro, and Gil by Ballester, Barcelon, Fabregat, Gil, Mol, Muntaner, Salvador y Carmona, and Selam, folding engraved map with Don Quixote's journeys outlined in red, engraved initials and head- and tailpieces; lower margin of frontispiece of vol. 1 renewed (not affecting image), some scattered foxing and spotting, but generally a clean copy. Contemporary Spanish calf binding, spines gilt in 7 compartments, red morocco gilt lettering pieces, mottled green calf covers with gilt borders and lozenges of inset brown calf with gilt borders, edges gilt, marbled endpapers; few early repairs to covers in brown calf, some wear at edges and extremities.  

"The finest edition of Don Quixote that has ever been printed" (Updike).

REFERENCE:

Cohen-De Ricci 218-19 ("magnifique édition comme typographie et comme ornamentation"); Palau 52024 ("Magnifica edicion y superior en belleza artistica a todos las que hasta entonces se habian en España y en el extranjero"); Updike II, 73-75