CERVANTES SAAVEDRA Miguel de [Les principales Aventures de l’admirable Don Quichotte, représentées en figures.]

Cohen-de Ricci, 214-215 (citing this copy); Ray, no. 4; Palau, 52726; Wittock, la Bibliothèque de Laurent Meeus, 42.

Magnificent and extremely rare engraved series by Coypel illustrating the adventures of Don Quixote.

The series consists of a portrait of Coypel (remarked in the format of the time) and 31 figures by Charles Coypel, in first state with the letter but without the numbers (except for two bearing the numbers 3 and 5 respectively), mounted on tabs.

This series of large-format plates is legendary for its rarity. The powerful images invented by Coypel were widely copied by other artists and greatly inspired the publishers of Don Quixote, who subsequently had numerous smaller plates engraved, as Ray indicates in his description of the 1746 edition of Don Quixote: “One wonders how the reputation of this well-known series would have fared if the engravings of 1723-1724 from which it was copied had been generally available for comparison. Between the earlier plates and the later ones, the engraved surface was reduced by almost two-thirds. And that’s not all. The 1724 plates are horizontally oriented, the 1746 plates vertically… When compared to the earlier engravings, those of 1746 can only be described as ‘scrowdged’, to borrow Mrs. Gamp’s vivid word. Particularly in plates with many actors, Coypel’s grasp of character is seriously weakened.”

“Ce sont ces compositions de Coypel qui ont servi de type pour un grand nombre d’illustrations de Don Quichotte. Les 24 premières figures furent gravées sous la direction de C. Coypel et parurent en 1724. La collection fut complétée par quelques compositions qui portent la suite à 31 pièces… La suite des épreuves, avant les numéros en maroquin rouge de Chambolle, 700 fr.” (Cohen-ce Ricci).

“Primera tirada de la celebres estampas de Coypel, constituendo una de las principales illustraciones del Quijote” (Palau).

Ray describes this series of engravings as “a tribute to [Coypel’s] verve and inventiveness”.

An exceptional copy cited by Cohen, who indicates that the copy sold for the high price of 700 francs at the Sauvage sale (collection sold in 1880, lot 100), then appeared in the Werlé sale under lot no. 752.

Provenance : Alfred Werlé (book plat with his cipher and catalogue number 3420) – Laurent Meeûs (with his bookplate bearing the motto “Liber est meus”).