A Tale of a Tub. Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To Which are Added, an Account of a Battle Between the Ancient and the Modern Books in St. James's Library; and, a Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit. With the Author's Apology; and, Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton, B.D. and Others.

SWIFT, JONATHAN

Published by R. Urie, Glasgow, 1753

About this Item

[SWIFT, JONATHAN (1667-1745)]. A Tale of a Tub. Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To Which are Added, an Account of a Battle Between the Ancient and the Modern Books in St. James's Library; and, a Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit. With the Author's Apology; and, Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton, B.D. and Others. Glasgow: printed by R. Urie, MDCCLIII. [1753].

THE THIRTEENTH EDITION. Three parts in one; leather-bound; hardcover; duodecimo (16.5 x 10 x 2 cm); pp. xxviii, 29-230, [2, publisher's ads]. Pagination is continuous. English text. Handsomely bound in contemporary full speckled calf gilt; red dyed page edges; marbled endpapers; 8 engraved plates; the 'Battle' and the 'Discourse' have separate title-pages; with a final advertisement leaf at the end. Condition: VERY GOOD. Collated complete. Binding tight and secure. Covers well-preserved with a small abrasion to upper board. Interior with some light toning. Without previous ownership markings.

Notes: First published in 1704, Swift's "A Tale of a Tub," was a biting satire on religious excess. "The work made Swift notorious, and was widely misunderstood, especially by Queen Anne herself who mistook its purpose for profanity." Ousby, I. (1993). [The Cambridge guide to literature in English; Teerink-Scouten, 241; ESTC N13654].

Seller Inventory # MFR1781

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Tale of a Tub. Written for the Universal Improvement of Mankind. To Which are Added, an Account of a Battle Between the Ancient and the Modern Books in St. James's Library; and, a Discourse Concerning the Mechanical Operation of the Spirit. With the Author's Apology; and, Explanatory Notes, by W. Wotton, B.D. and Others.
• Publisher: R. Urie, Glasgow
• Publication Date: 1753
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Dimensions: 10W x 16.5H x 2D centimeters 10 centimeters width by 16.5 centimeters height by 2 centimeters depth
• Seller catalogs:
  • Fine Bindings
  • Classic Literature
  • 18th Century
  • Fiction