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CERVANTES SAAVEDRA, Miguel de (1557-1616)
Ocho Comedias y Ocho Entremeses Nuevos. Madrid: widow of Alonso Martin for Juan de Villarroel, 1615.
First edition, in fine, original condition, and one of only 3 copies offered at auction in over half a century – the Fletcher of Saltoun copy. This is Cervantes’s only theatrical work published in his lifetime and contains his late drama in 8 verse comedies and 8 prose interludes. In addition, this issue with 4 preliminary leaves includes his survey of contemporary Spanish theatre, and his dedication to the Count of Lemos mentions the forthcoming first printing of the second part of Don Quixote. The themes of the comedies are the tension between Moor and Christian, chivalry, love among the gipsies. The interludes ‘are astonishingly original’ and treat of married life, village life, a satire on husbands, etc. (cf. Oxford Companion to Spanish Literature). Palau 53948.
Quarto (208 x 141mm). Type-ornament decoration on title, one ornamental initial, outer sheet of quire K misfolded (neat marginal paper flaw in Bb5). Contemporary flexible vellum, spine lettered in ink and with shelf -label ‘1227’ at foot, missing ties; modern russet morocco case. Provenance: François van den Cruyce (early signature on title) – Sir Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653-1716), Scottish politician and bibliophile (Willems, Bibliotheca Fletcheriana, 2001; signature on title) – Philip Robinson (sold Sotheby’s, 23 June 1988, lot 9) – [sold Sotheby’s, 7 December 2000, lot 58].