Bequeathed by Elizabeth Carter to Hannah More.- Cervantes Saavedra (Miguel de) El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de la Mancha, 4 vol., new edition, engraved frontispiece and 23 plates, a few with tissue-guards, folding engraved map with hand-coloured line, each vol. with engraved bookplate of Elizabeth Carter, inscription in the hand of Hannah More "These volumes were bequeathed March 1806 to Hannah More by her wise, learned, and very excellent friend Mrs. Eliz: Carter" to front free endpaper vol. 1 (loose and slightly frayed at fore-edge, not affecting inscription), additional inscription in the hand of More "These volumes are presented to Richard Vaughan Davis, son of her highly valued and esteemed friend Richard Hart Davis Esq., M.P. for Bristol, by his obliged and faithful servant Hannah More, May 30 - 1828" to another front free endpaper vol. 1, map with short split along fold, first plate with stain to inner-margin, some light browning and soiling, contemporary calf, covers with central gilt monogram "E.C.", lacking spine labels, rubbed and worn, all but vol. 3 spines broken with contents split in at least two parts and some other leaves loose, most covers detached, 8vo, Madrid, Joachin Ibarra, 1782.

⁂ Bequeathed from one leading member of the Bluestocking Circle to another, with inscriptions in More's hand bookending her 23 years of ownership. Elizabeth Carter (1717-1806), poet, translator, writer and prominent Bluestocking member, whose eminent friends included Elizabeth Montagu, Hester Chapone and of course Hannah More (1745-1833). She also befriended Samuel Johnson, editing some editions of his periodical The Rambler. Carter was proficient in multiple classical and modern languages, including Spanish.

This set was subsequently gifted by Hannah More to Richard Vaughan Davis, son of successful merchant and Tory politician Richard Hart Davis, who served as MP for Bristol from 1812-31. Hart Davis was an evangelical reformer and involved in More’s philanthropic work around Bristol.