Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) - photo 1
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) - photo 2
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616) - photo 3

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)

Lot 131
09.12.2020 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Starting price
£ 40 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 470085
Lot 131 | Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)
Estimate value
£ 40 000 – 60 000
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547-1616)

El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. 1607

CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de (1547-1616). El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha. Brussels: Roger Velpius, 1607.



The first Brussels edition, freshly preserved in a 17th-century English binding, of the novel ‘which is to Spanish literature what Shakespeare is to English’ (Bloom). This copy is from the library of Arthur Charlett (1655-1722), Master at University College, Oxford, and bears his engraved bookpile bookplate designed by Samuel Pepys (1633-1703). It was later in the collection of bibliographer Jean Peeters-Fontainas (1891-1975), who compiled the definitive work on Spanish books printed in Belgium.



Ruiz notes that this edition was the most finely printed of the early versions to date. Don Quixote won immediate fame when first printed 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’s edition, which introduced the text to Northern Europe, is based on Cuedra’s second (with many misprints and other textual infelicities corrected). RBH records only 3 other copies at auction since 1978. Palau 51981; Ruiz 7; USTC 5039050; cf. PMM 111; Bloom, Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote, p. 1.



Octavo (166 x 102mm). Woodcut initials and ornaments (title with small portion of blank lower outer corner restored, some insignificant browning). Near-contemporary English polished calf, sides with blind-ruled triple fillet border, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt ‘HISTORY OF DON QUIXOT’ and gilt leaf motif repeated four times, green edges, binder’s waste from an unidentified edition of Aristotle’s ‘On the Soul’, Book III (joints lightly rubbed, short splits at foot of joints, some repairs to extremities). Provenance: Arthur Charlett (1655-1722; engraved book-plate with monogram AC and motto: ‘Animus si aequus, quod petis hic est') – Ellis, New Bond Street (bookseller’s label on rear pastedown) – Jean Peeters-Fontainas (1891-1975; bookplate, sale Sotheby’s, 22-23 May 1978, Lot 113, sold £1200).

Place of origin:Belgium
Auction house category:Books
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
09.12.2020 – 09.12.2020
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.
?>