First printed edition outside the Iberian peninsula in its unrestored first binding

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de.

El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha. Compuesto por Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

Brussels: Roger Velpius, 1607.

Hardcover. Very Good. Item #004194

El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha. Compuesto por Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Brusselas: por Roger Velpius, inpressor de sus Altezas, en l'Aguila de oro, cerca de Palacio, 1607. 8vo (172 x 106 mm). [24], 592, [8] pp. Signatures: *⁸ **⁴ A-2O⁸ 2P⁴. Title with small typographic vignette, text with woodcut initials and tailpieces; 8 pages of register bound at the end. Bound in its first, contemporary and unrestored polished calf, spine with 3 raised bands, sides with border of tripple fillet, blue-dyed edges, original endpapers (chipping of spine leather at head and foot, minor wear to lower corners, worming of front endpaper). Light age-toning of text and weak waterstaining mostly to first and final gatherings; some dog-earing in places; title page with old paper reinforcement at lower joint away from printed area; title-leaf with 5 small worm holes mostly at outer margins and not affecting text; closed tear to lower margin of leaf B8 and Mm8; tiny rust hole in G5 affecting two letters each side; tiny hole in leaf O3 affecting one letter of text verso. Provenance: contemporary ownership inscriptions to title (erased) and rear pastedown (illegible). A very good, tall and unpressed copy in its first, fully unrestored binding. Collated and complete. ----

RARE FIRST BRUSSELS EDITION OF THE FIRST PART OF DON QUIXOTE AND THE FIRST PRINTED OUTSIDE THE IBERIAN PENINSULA. Ruiz notes that this edition was the most finely printed of the early versions to date. Don Quixote won immediate fame shortly after its appearance in 1605 for its "variety, liveliness, and gibes at the famous." Its subdued pathos and universal humanity have assured it a place as "one of those universal works which are read by all ages at all times" (PMM). It quickly went through numerous editions, translations, and piracies. This edition is the seventh overall - all early editions are rare. Velpius' edition, which introduced the text to Northern Europe, is based on Cuesta's second (with many misprints and other textual infelicities corrected).
Bibliography & References: Palau 51981; Rius, L. Bibliografia critica de las obras de Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 7; USTC 5039050; cf. PMM 111; Bloom, Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote, p. 1.; Ford, J.D.M. Cervantes p. 5. - Visit our website to see more images!

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