[Swift, Jonathan]

A Tale of a Tub, Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind ... To which is added, An Account of a Battel between the Antient and Modern Books in St. James's Library. London: John Nutt, 1704



8vo (7 1/2 x 4 1/2 in.; 190 x 114 mm). Advertisement leaf facing title, a second title for the Battel, with the final blank leaf Y2; ad leaf a bit short at foot, light marginal thumbing to title. Contemporary panelled calf, blind-ruled with floral stamps at four corners, gold-stamped title label on spine, red sprinkled edges; rebacked with original spine laid down, later endpapers.

Sir Harry Newton (bookplate)

Rothschild 1992; Teerink 217

First edition, second state with blank space at page 320, line 10.
These are Swift's earliest major satires, on corruption in religion and learning, as exemplified in the conduct of Peter (Catholic), Martin (Protestant), and Jack (Calvinism) in the Tale of the Tub, and the battle of the ancients and moderns in the Battel. Both pieces were written at Moor Park about 1696-1697 when Swift was secretary to Sir William Temple.

A handsome, crisp copy.