ILLUSTRATIONS BY REY VILLA - Lot 182

ILLUSTRATIONS BY REY VILLA CERVANTES SAAVEDRA (Miguel de). DON QUICHOTTE DE LA MANCHE. [Paris], Club du Livre, [1958]. Four tomes in four in-4° volumes (xxix pp, 286 pp // 312 pp // 325 pp // 329 pp), full black grosgrain chagrin, gilt ribbed boards, spines richly decorated with gilt ribbing and motifs (Copy of the famous Mudejar binding from the private collection of H. E. M. the Duke of Alba in Seville. It is reproduced by Henri Randeynes, Maître-Relieur). A fine copy, preserved in a slipcase. Excellent translation by Louis Viardot. The edition is typeset in Plantin corps 12, from the presses of Georges Lang and Les Petits-Fils de Léonard Danel. 1 of 4,000 copies printed on vellum from the Papeteries de Navarre. It is illustrated with numerous color gouaches, off-text and vignettes by José-Luis Rey Villa. Very interesting biographical note by Luis Astrana Maria, president of the Societa Cervantine. We learn that in the mid-twentieth century, there were 850 Spanish-language editions, 400 in French and 314 in English!