Sanctuary Books Archives - Rare Book Insider

[The Exemplary Novels]. Nouvelles de Michel de Cervantes Saavedra [with]. La Vie de l’Auteur.

2 vols. 8vo. 166 x 180 mm. Contemporary mottled calf, gilt ruled covers with fleurons at corners, gilt spines, a.e.g. Chipping to extremities but still a nice set. Bookplate of Kenneth Rapoport in each volume. Illustrated with portrait (in vol.1) by Folkema after G.Kent, and 13 full-page engraved plates by Folkema, one at the head of each story, both title-pages with engraved vignettes of the three bawdiest "novelas exemplares." The Curious Impertinent, The Glass Licentiate, and Rinconet and Corta-dillo. All three are regarded as among the best of the thirteen novelas. Each story is accompanied by a full-page illustration by Folkema. A fine rococco illustrated book. Lewine, Bibl. of Eighteenth-Century Art and Illustrated Books, p.104; Cohen, Guide de l'amateur de Livres de figures, p. 105. RIus 1, 906.