Histoire de l'admirable Don Quichotte de la Manche

New edition illustrated with 52 unsigned plates, including 6 frontispieces. Volume V is a continuation of the history of Don Quixote, by the translator Filleau de Saint Martin. Volume VI written by the author Robert Challes. Title pages erroneously indicate 58 figures.
Brown full contemporary roan, stamped in gilt in between raised bands. Title page in red morocco. Small piece of leather lacking to upper part of Volume I, small loss to head of spine. In volume II, upper spine-end torn off and lower spine-end partly missing, some damage to lower cover. Volume III, damaged upper spine-end. Volume IV, lower spine-end missing. Volume V, upper spine-end missing. Volume VI, upper spine-end flattened. 6 corners dulled. Despite traces of use, a good, uniform set. Bright paper overall, with occasional foxing around title pages and some yellowed leaves.
At the end of the 17th century, publisher Claude Barbin tasked Filleau de Saint-Martin to issue a new translation of Don Quixote, as Oudin's first translation had become obsolete, archaic and too literal. Filleau de Saint-Martin's translation prevailed until the 19th century. Interestingly, the translator changed the story's ending, opting not to have his hero die, which allowed him to write a sequel to his adventures, followed by another sequel by Robert Challes; this edition can be regarded as a French appropriation of Cervantes' masterpiece.