Persile et Sigismonde, histoire septentrionale

First edition of this French translation by Madame Le Givre de Richebourg, initialed on the title pages: L. G. D. R.
Contemporary full marbled calf binding. Smooth spine decorated. Garnet morocco title label, red morocco volume label. Volume I headcaps missing. A lack along the lower joint of volume I and 2 on the upper board (wormhole damage). Lack at head of volume II. Half-title and title pages with browning in margins. 2 corners slightly bumped.
Cervantes' last work completed 4 days before his death and published posthumously in 1617. In his epistle, Cervantes declares he had never written anything better. The novel is a sort of rewriting of Heliodorus's Latin novel: The Aethiopica, but Cervantes placed his heroes in the north and each of the trials of the separated couple takes place in a spiritual and Christian journey. This work would not have many editions over the centuries, eclipsed by the success of Don Quixote.