Don Quixote

San Francisco: Arion Press, 2010. Hardcover. Fine. Hardcover. Number 40 of 400 copies for sale and 26 lettered copies for complimentary distribution. Signed and numbered by the artist, William Wiley. This is a superb deluxe edition of Don Quixote, considered the first modern novel and among the greatest works of literature in the world. It was published ini two volumes in 1605 and 1615. The Press commissioned the acclaimed translation by Edith Grossman (1936-2023) of the novel. She was considered one of the foremost translators of Spanish language literature. The artist, William T. Wiley, was an American artist. His work spanned a broad range of media including drawing, painting, sculpture, film, performance, and pinball. At least some of Wiley's work has been referred to as funk art. [Wikipedia] The incidents from the novel that he depicts are comic and tragic.

Bound in three-piece tan pigskin with dark brown spines with gilt titling and a DQ monogram in gold, designed by Wiley, on the front covers. Letterpress printed on all-cotton fiber sheets made for this project by Mead Specialty Papers. The type is Centaur, designed by Bruce Rogers. The initial letters were drawn by Mallette Dean in 1963 for the Grabhorn Press. They were intended to be used with Centaur type. With 97 etched illustrations Housed in slipcases with tan cloth around the top, spine, and bottom, with brown paper sides and a spine label. In fine condition. Accompanied by the prospectus, with an Arion Press bookmark laid into Volume II. Each volume measures 7 x 10.5 inches. Volume I: 574 pages; Volume II: 627 pages.