Author: Miguel de Cervantes. Retold by Judge Parry. Illustrated by Walter Crane.
Title: The Story of Don Quixote of the Mancha.
Publisher: London, Blackie & Son, Limited; Manchester, Sherratt & Hughes, 1900. First Edition.
Language: Text in English.
Size: 9.5 x 6.5 inches.
Pages: xii, 245 pages, followed by publisher’s advertisements.
Binding: Attractive and near fine original publisher’s decorative red cloth binding, richly pictorially stamped in black, cream, and blue on the upper board with Don Quixote on horseback and ornamental Art Nouveau borders; spine similarly decorated and lettered (hinges fine, overall slightly scuffed - as shown) under a protective removable mylar cover. Overall, a very well-preserved example of Crane’s striking cover design.
Content: Very good content (bright, tight and clean, rare light toning - as shown, closed tear to page 152 neatly repaired by a previous owner - as shown, gift note of a previous owner on the first endpaper - as shown).
Illustrations: Profusely illustrated throughout with Walter Crane’s full-page colour plates and numerous black-and-white drawings, all present and well preserved, forming one of the most celebrated illustrated retellings of Cervantes for younger readers.

Estimate: (USD 250–500).

The book: This first edition of The Story of Don Quixote of the Mancha, retold by Judge Parry and magnificently illustrated by Walter Crane, is among the most visually accomplished juvenile adaptations of Cervantes’ masterpiece. Crane’s vibrant colour plates and elegant line drawings interpret the adventures of the idealistic knight and his loyal squire Sancho Panza with a decorative sensibility rooted in the Arts and Crafts movement. From the famous windmill episode to scenes of penance and wandering, the illustrations blend humour, chivalric romance, and gentle satire, perfectly echoing the spirit of the original novel while making it accessible to younger readers. The ornate pictorial binding, designed by Crane himself, further enhances the book’s appeal as both a literary and artistic object of the golden age of illustrated children’s books.

The author: Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra (1547–1616) was the great Spanish novelist and the creator of Don Quixote, widely regarded as the first modern novel and one of the foundational works of Western literature. His tale of the deluded yet noble knight-errant and his earthy companion remains an enduring exploration of idealism, illusion, and the power of imagination.

The reteller: Judge Parry (Edward Abbott Parry, 1863–1943) was a British barrister, judge, and writer of children’s literature. His adaptations of classic tales sought to preserve their narrative richness while rendering them approachable and engaging for younger audiences.

The illustrator: Walter Crane (1845–1915) was one of the most influential illustrators of the Victorian era and a leading figure of the Arts and Crafts movement. Renowned for his bold decorative style, harmonious colour palettes, and integration of text and image, Crane transformed children’s book illustration into a sophisticated art form and left a lasting mark on late nineteenth-century book design.