Cervantine Collection of the Biblioteca de Catalunya

In order to promote the accessibility of these precious books, the Institut d’Estudis Catalans hired Joan Givanel as the first keeper of the collection to start the project of a catalogue in 1915.

The following most valuable items of the famous work of Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quijote, form part of the collection: Amongst the graphic works are particularly valuable the collection of 16 watercolour paintings[permanent dead link‍] of which 15 served as illustrations for the edition of Don Quijote of the Real Academia Española of 1780.

Ephimera, from picture and playing cards to posters of cinematic adaptions (like for example Dulcinea), as well as some objects, offer – together with the illustrated editions and original graphic works, a broad range of the Cervantine iconography.

Furthermore, the collection includes some musical scores like the symphonic poem of Don Quijote by Richard Strauss as well as auditory and audio-visual recordings, for example of the opera D.Q.

[6] The Memória Digital de Catalunya dedicated an entry to the Cervatine Collection that is going to be increased with the most excellent works of public dominion.