Gulliver's Travels, Arranged in Three Parts from the Original of Jonathan Swift by M. Dodge Holmes, Illustrated by Edwin J. Prittie, 1930

Holmes, M. Dodge (editor). Gulliver’s Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World, Arranged in Three Parts From the Original of Jonathan Swift. Philadelphia, Chicago, Toronto: The John C. Winston Company, 1930. Illustrated by Edwin J. Prittle. Octavo. In publisher’s original green cloth boards, with full color pastedown and gilt stamped border to the front and gilt embossed titles to the spine. Profusely illustrated with green map endpapers, full color and black and white illustrations. New archival green cloth slipcase with front inlay. 

Presented is a 1930 edition of Gulliver’s Travels Into Several Remote Nations of the World, Arranged in Three Parts From the Original of Jonathan Swift by M. Dodge Holmes. This is a charming later printing of Swift’s satirical and fantastical travelog, which first appeared in 1726. This printing was published by The John C. Winston Company in 1930 and is distinguished by its illustrations by Edward J. Prittie. It is presented in the publisher’s original green cloth boards, with full color pastedown and gilt stamped border to the front and gilt titles stamped on the spine. It is profusely and beautifully illustrated with green map endpapers, a full color frontispiece and three full color full page illustrations, ten black and white full page illustrations, and numerous black and white chapter headings and in-text illustrations. 

Gulliver’s Travels was originally published in two volumes in October of 1726 under the full title Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships. It is a satirical work of prose by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift, although the first edition was published anonymously. Written as a parody of popular travel narratives of the 18th century, the book offers a nuanced critique of society, class, politics, and human nature. 

The narrative follows the travels of Lemuel Gulliver, an English surgeon and sea captain who journeys to a series of strange, fictional lands. From Lilliput to Brobdingnag, Laputa to Glubbdubdrib to Houyhnhnms, Gulliver encounters fantastical inhabitants who are consumed by trivial political quarrels, scholars absorbed in impractical theories, a society of rational horses, magicians who commune with historical ghosts, immortal beings, and giants who rebuke European customs. Swift uses Gulliver’s voyages to satirize popular travelogs of the time, as well as shine light on the follies and contradictions of human civilization, politics, and morality. Since its early 18th century publication, Gulliver’s Travels has become one of the most enduring works of English literature. 

Edwin John Prittie (1879 - 1963) was an American illustrator of children’s books, magazines, and advertisements. Born in Gouverneur, New York on July 11, 1879, Prittie attended the Pennsylvania Museum School of Industrial Art in 1898. Prittie illustrated many classics during his long-standing tenure with the John C. Winston publishing company of Philadelphia.  From 1906 to 1932, he illustrated 14 major works and classics, numerous youth series, and textbooks and reference books. His credits include Edward Ellis' boys' adventures, the Twilight Animal Series, and the classics like Alice In Wonderland (1923), Robin Hood (1923), Black Beauty (1927), Joan Of Arc (1930), and Gulliver's Travels (1930). He was also the exclusive cover artist for Comfort Magazine throughout the 1930’s. He ended his illustrating career as primary artist on Gum Inc.’s “Horrors of War” and “Lone Ranger” series of chewing gum cards, from 1938-1942. 

CONDITION:

Very good + condition. Octavo. In green cloth boards, with full color pastedown and gilt stamped border to front, titled in gilt on the spine. Color pastedown with light surface scratches, but very vibrant in color. Gilt embossed border and gilt embossed spine titles very minimally faded. Bumping to tail and headcap of spine. New linings and reinforced endcaps. Original illustrated green map endpapers. Pages are very healthy, with overall even toning. All illustrations accounted for with full color frontispiece and three full color full page illustrations, ten black and white full page illustrations, and numerous black and white chapter headings and in-text illustrations. Presented with a new archival green cloth slipcase, with front inlay. 

Book Dimensions: 8 11/16" H x 6 3/8" W x 1 1/2" D . Slipcase Dimensions: 9 1/16" H x 6 11/16" W x 1 15/16" D .

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.