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Second issue of the First Jarvis Edition. Two Volumes (complete set). Quarto. Pagination: Volume I: Frontispiece, XXIV, (8), I - [XXIV], (interrupted with 8 unnumbered pages: "Supplement to the Translator's Preface," on the origin of books of chivalry, [by Wiliam Warburton]), continued pagination [XXV-XXXII], Second Frontispiece (Portrait of Cervantes by George Vertue after G. Kent), V, (2), 355 pages with 28 copperplates (including the two frontispieces). Volume II: XII, 388 pages with 41 copperplate illustrations. In total 69 copperplate engravings, all drawn by John Vanderbank and engraved by Gerard van der Gucht / Vandergucht. Modern Hardcover bindings by an english masterbinder, styled to the 18th century period and with new endpapers that carry the original bookplates / Exlibris of John Fane, (Lord Burgersh) the Earl of Westmoreland. Excellent condition with only minor signs of foxing to the outer margins of the pages. All illustrations in strong and fresh imprint. An excellent set from a famous library. This exceptional Don Quixote - publication is more than just an early edition but ratherone of the most desired translations of this masterpiece. The Translator's Preface is a short history and early literary criticism of Cervantes' Don Quixtoe - Edition of the early 18th century. Charles Jervas (here incorrectly "Jarvis", is openly attacking previous Quixote-Editions by Stevens, Shelton, Motteux ("The edition by John Stevens is but a bare attempt to correct some passages of Shelton, and, though the grammar be a little mended by the connecting particles, the antique stile [sic] of the old one is entirely broken"). History of the Translator Charles Jervas [incorrect "Jarvis"]: Charles Jervas (also Jarvis; c. 1675 2 November 1739) was an Irish portrait painter, translator, and art collector of the early 18th century. Born in Clonlisk, County Offaly, Ireland around 1675, the son of John Jervas and Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Baldwin of Shinrone Castle & Corolanty, High Sheriff of County Offaly. Jervas studied in London, England as an assistant under Sir Godfrey Kneller between 1694 and 1695. Painting portraits of the city's intellectuals, among them such personal friends as Jonathan Swift and the poet Alexander Pope (both now in the National Portrait Gallery, London), Charles Jervas became a popular artist often referred to in the works of literary figures of the period. Jervas gave painting lessons to Pope at his house in Cleveland Court, St James's, which Pope mentions in his poem, To Belinda on the Rape of the Lock, written 1713, published 1717 in 'Poems on Several Occasions'. Pope's verse Epistle to Mr Jervas, written circa 1715, was published in the 1716 edition of John Dryden's 1695 translation of Fresnoy's Art of Painting (Charles Alphonse Du Fresnoy's De arte graphica, 1668). With his growing reputation, Jervas succeeded Kneller as Principal Painter in Ordinary to King George I in 1723, and continued to live in London until his death in 1739. His translation of Cervantes' novel Don Quixote, published posthumously in 1742 as being made by Charles "Jarvis" because of a printer's error has since come to be known as "the Jarvis translation". Jervas was first to provide an introduction to the novel including a critical analysis of previous translations of Don Quixote. It has been highly praised as the most accurate translation of the novel up to that time, but also strongly criticised for being stiff and humourless, although it went through many printings during the 19th century. (Wikipedia) "His [Charles Jarvis] major literary undertaking was an English translation of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Published posthumously in 1742 and frequently reprinted, it is generally acknowledged as being close in spirit to the original." [Source: ODNB - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]. Regarding the Provenance: John Fane, 11th Earl of Westmorland GCB GCH PC (2 February 1784 16 October 1859), styled Lord Burghersh u.
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