THE FIRST ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NEW COPIES - Lot 62

THE FIRST ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NEW COPIES CERVANTES SAAVEDRA (Miguel de) author of the History of Don Quixote. NEW. New translation enriched with intaglio figures. Amsterdam, Marc Antoine, 1705. One volume in-12 (8 ff, 508 pp, 2 ff and 8 plates), full long-grained blue morocco, gilt fillets on boards and smooth spine, gilt edges (Binding late 18th century). Spine slightly oiled, covers rubbed. Rare first edition of this French translation of Les Nouvelles exemplaires, probably by Abbé Saint-Martin de Chassonville (cf Catalogo de la colección cervantina). It is also attributed to Hessein and Cotolendi. First edition illustrated with eight unsigned intaglio engravings, including a portrait-frontispiece of the author, seated at a table, to whom an angel lends his pen. According to Iñes Padrosa Gorgot (La colección cervantina de la Biblioteca del Castillo de Peralada, p. 101, 2001), we have here the first representation of Cervantes, one hundred years after the first edition of 1605: "el artista anónimo hace caso omiso a la description de que el autor fuera manco. " Rius 894: Las ocho làminas que la embellecen, primeras que se conocen de las Novelas. Palau (53526) reports only seven plates. Unidentified old bookplate.