TRAVELS OF LEMUEL GULLIVER With an Introduction by Shane Leslie

SIGNED, LIMITED EDITION, one of 1500 hand-numbered copies signed by the illustrator, Alexander King. THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED FOR THE L.E.C. Impressively illustrated with 19 ink and wash paintings by Alexander King, this is said to be the first illustrated edition of "Gulliver's Travels" which was not aimed at a juvenile audience. Additional lithograph on the titlepage, illustrated cartographic endpapers, large initials, rules, and chapter numbers printed in mocha. 4to, in the original gold linen backed in pigskin, the spine lettered in blind, t.e.d., in the rarely encountered parchment dustwrapper and in the original slipcase of salmon paper-covered boards, the back lettered in black. x, 293, [1] pp. A pristine and perfect copy, the book is in mint condition inside and out. The rare parchment wrapper is toned at the spine where exposed to the air and has a two inch chip at the foot, the slipcase is sturdy and sound with no cracks to the paper or separation at the seems and is just lightly mellowed.

Edizione: an outstanding copy of the first book produced by the limited editions club, and considered the first illustrated edition of swift's magnum opus for adult readers. for his first book george macy chose one of the greatest satires of the english language, and one he felt needed to be redeemed from having been cast into the realm of children's books. to this end he decided to print the full unabridged text following the 1726 edition printed by motte but including the corrections made by the author upon a copy of the london edition owned by his friend and colleague charles ford.<br> macy's choice of illustrator would also be based on his intent to return gulliver's travels to its place in adult literature. thus, the very first illustrator hired by the limited editions club would turn out to be alexander king. macy called king "the arch-priest" of a "cult of ugliness" and said he produced for gulliver ". a set of fierce, savage pictures which would have made dean swift roar with pleasure." in fact, one illustration quickly became somewhat infamous, showing gulliver urinating in the capital to put out a fire.