Miguel de Cervantes, 1927-28

The Ashendene Press Don Quixote
Miguel de Cervantes, 1927-28
CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de (1547-1616). The First [-Second] Part of the History of the Valorous and Wittie Knight-Errant Don Quixote of the Mancha. Translated out of Spanish by Thomas Shelton, MDCXII. Chelsea: The Ashendene Press, 1927-28.

Limited edition of the Ashendene Don Quixote in a W.H. Smith binding. These were the first volumes to be printed in Ptolemy type at the Ashendene Press, in imitation of the Geographia of 1482. This copy is one of 225 printed on handmade Batchelor paper out of a total edition of 245; 20 copies were printed on vellum. The Ashendene Press was founded by Charles Harold St John Hornby, a business partner at W.H. Smith & Sons.

Two volumes, folio (430 x 308mm). Woodcut foliated initials and borders by W.M. Quick and George H. Ford after Louise Powell; headings, shoulder notes and small portions of text printed in red, pages uncut (light offsetting from morocco turn-ins on flyleaves and edges of a few pages). Contemporary dark green morocco by W.H. Smith & Son with their stamp, spines with raised bands and gilt lettering (light wear to spine; Zambrano library label on back pastedowns).