Dali Original Intaglio Restrike: "Cervantes."

Dali Original Intaglio Restrike
"Cervantes"

This image comes from the suite of 5 original etchings titled Five Spanish Immortals (Field catalog #65-7(B), pp. 28-29).  The one in my collection is a Collector's Guild unlimited edition restrike characterized by the black ink and Dali's signature in the lower left corner of the plate (Restrike information in Field catalog on p. 236).

The etching seems to have been released in a wood frame with silver accents (pictured here) and a white or off-white matte.  On the back of the frame is a Collector's Guild COA.  This original frame and matte combination makes for an attractive package.

It is interesting to compare this package with the Don Quixote framed etching from the same series.  Both are in the exact same size and style frame, but the Don Quixote is about 50% heavier.  I believe the difference in weight is due to the different material used for the backing board.  The Don Quixote has a dense particle board wood backing, and the Cervantes has a softer, cardboard-like backing covered with brown paper.

More research is needed on this issue.  Perhaps this aspect can be used to assess relative order of prints from the unlimited edition.  If sturdier materials are found associated with this print, one hypothesis is that the move to lighter materials represents a switch to cheaper production costs in later runs.

There is no definitive information about how many of these unlimited restrikes were made, but they are very easy to find.  They generally sell for between $50 and $100 depending on the condition.

I was able to get this one in beautiful condition for fewer than $90.