A copy of the Salvador Dali-illustrated work Pages choisies de Don Quichotte de la Mancha (1957) has sold for $25,000 at Swann Auction Galleries in New York.

It features 12 lithographs by the legendary surrealist and was printed in a limited run of 197 copies.  

Dali's lithographs required the use of six printers

This was the first time Dali had experimented seriously with lithography. The highly complex process required six different printers, resulting in a suite of images that he refered to proudly as "the lithographies of the century."

He outlined the process in a suitably cryptic postscript, explaining that "to outline the sails of the mills, the artist stuffed a rhino horn with bread and dipped in ink this monstrous quill..."

Pablo Picasso's Picasso and the Human Comedy (1954) also sold well at the October 1 auction, beating an estimate of $2,500 by 500% to make $15,000.

The lot is numbered 29 of 30 and consists of a series of illustrations he produced between 1953 and 1954, alongside 16 colour lithographed plates.

We have this signed postcard from Pablo Picasso available.

John Cage and Lois Long's The Mushroom Book was another highlight, realising $10,625 against a $7,500 estimate - an increase of 41.6%.  

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