SWIFT, Jonathan. The Select Works. Illustrated. Five volumes.

London: Printed for Hector McClean, 1823. 12mo. Bound in contemporary full maroon straight grain morocco. Covers bordered in gilt with a decorative ‘v’ roll with foliate insets surrounded by a band of five rules, spines with raised bans, panels with ornate foliate spray, turn-ins gilt. A.e.g. Front board of volume one with long but inoffensive bruise, one board with a few minor indents, another with a small dark stain, one corner a little rubbed, only trivial imperfections and in fine condition. Slight foxing and soiling (confined mostly to a single volume), leaves opposite plates a bit offset, small tear to the front margin of one leaf, a few creased corners. A fine and attractive set. These small volumes were published for the benefit of the reader of modest fortune who would not be able to afford the prior, grandiose editions of Swift’s works. Two of the volumes are devoted to Swift’s poetry and the other three contain his best known prose works including, ‘The Tale of a Tuby’, ‘Gulliver’s Travels’ and ‘Directions to Servants’. Engraved portrait frontispiece in first volume and fourteen engraved plates. Special titlepage for ‘Tale of a Tub’, and ‘Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World’ by Lemuel Gulliver, in volumes one and two respectively.