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SWIFT, Jonathan.
Travels into several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts.
By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of several Ships.
First edition, published on 28 October 1726 at the price of 8s. 6d. Swift had completed a full rough draft of his masterpiece by August 1725, and brought it over to England the following March. The pseudonymous and satirically explosive political satire was seen through to the press chiefly by Pope, with the assistance of John Gay and Erasmus Lewis. For speed, and to counter the risk of piracy, Motte used five printing houses (those of Edward Say, Henry Woodfall, James Bettenham, William Pearson, and, for the greatest share, that of Jane Ilive). Swift had returned to Ireland on news of Stella's illness and never saw proofs, so was powerless to prevent unauthorized deletions and insertions by Andrew Tooke (the brother of Benjamin Tooke jun.) The first edition sold out within a week, and Motte followed up with two more octavo editions in 1726 (Teerink AA and B). Gay noted: "From the highest to the lowest it is universally read, from the Cabinet-council to the Nursery". It was hailed as a classic that "would last as long as the language, because it described the combination of qualities which made it at once a favourite book of children and a summary of bitter scorn for mankind" (DNB). "Gulliver's Travels has given Swift immortality beyond temporary fame" (PMM).
2 volumes, octavo (194 × 120 mm). Contemporary tan panelled calf, red morocco labels, red sprinkled edges. Frontispiece portrait of Gulliver in the second state as usual, the legend lettered around the oval frame, a Latin quotation below, vertical chain lines; 5 engraved maps, plate of the automatic writing engine. Contemporary engraved bookplates of Viscount Lymington; modern leather collector's label. Joints starting at top and tail but holding firm, final free endpaper torn across upper outer corner, two gatherings in vol. I standing a little proud, but an exceptional set in contemporary state, internally clean and fresh, rare thus.
