Swift, Jonathan

6 parts in 3 volumes, 8vo (7 3/4 x 4 5/8 in.; 196 x 116 mm). Frontispiece engraved portrait (Teerink's state 2a), 5 letter-press titles, 5 engraved maps and 1 plan in first two vols, half-title, 2 letter-press titles, and engraved frontispiece in vol 3; some light marginal spotting in first two vols, third vol somewhat browned with some spots, marginal worming in quires C-E. First two vols: contemporary mottled calf, gilt-ruled border; rebacked with title labels laid down; third vol: contemporary panelled calf with central panel and outer frame mottled, roll-tooled and stamped in blind; joints broken, backstrip mended, a few scrapes in upper cover, extremities rubbed. In a tan cloth drop box; rear panel split.

Earl of Guilford, Wroxton Abbey (engraved armorial bookplates) — Robert Borthwick Adam (1863-1940, goldstamped leather bookplates with portrait of Samuel Johnson)

H. Teerink, Bibliography (1963), nos. 289 & 292

First edition, first printing (Teerink's "A" edition), plus the spurious "third" volume, a fine copy in contemporary calf of Gulliver's Travels, published on 28 October 1726.

The Travels were written in Ireland, probably between 1720 and 1725, and Swift brought the finished manuscript to England with him when he left Dublin for London in March 1726. As the time of publication approached, it was frequently discussed by his friends, but even after it appeared on 28 October 1726 Swift kept up the public pretense of having had no hand in it.