Gulliver's Travels, first edition 1726

Travels Into Several Remote Nations Of The World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First A Surgeon, And Then A Captain Of Several Ships was written by the great Irish essayist, pamphleteer and poet Jonathan Swift, who was Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

The book known as Gulliver's Travels is a satirical masterpiece of worldwide renown. When its arrival was announced in 1726, the Evening Post heralded it as 'an immediate best-seller'. The publisher, Benjamin Motte, was kept busy with the production of two more editions. By the end of the year, there were also two pirated editions in use. It has never been out of print since publication.

This copy is a first edition, dated 28 October 1726, and carries amendments in Swift's own handwriting. Motte had made changes to printing errors in the first edition without Swift's knowledge. He had wanted to avoid possible legal action by those whom Swift had openly criticised. Swift was angry and made corrections on this particular copy in preparation for the second edition.