Printed and Manuscript Americana

Philadelphia: Published for Birch and Small, 1811. In four volumes. Early American edition. 16mo. 318; 299; 330; 312 pp. Translated by Tobias Smollett. Full contemporary mottled calf, red morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, label of first volume chipped, boards, extremities, joints, and spine rubbed and scuffed, spine cap perished on first and second volumes; all edges trimmed; small contemporary inscription in upper front paste-down of first volume, contemporary ownership signature on front free endpaper of same; near-contemporary ownership signature on front free endpaper of fourth volume; foxing and spotting throughout; lacking rear free endpaper in fourth volume. Grismer, p. 143; Shaw & Shoemaker 22498

Rare early separate American edition of Cervantes' classic novel. Smollett's English translation was first published in America in Philadelphia in John Conrad & Co.'s Select Novels series in 1803 (Vols. X-XIII), and first published separately the following year.

According to RBH, this is only the third copy of this edition to come to auction in over 100 years.