Arthur Rackham / Jonathan Swift - Gulliver's Travels...

DESCRIPTION: I am pleased to offer at auction a beautiful and highly desirable copy of the landmark FIRST EDITION WITH ARTHUR RACKHAM’S COLOUR PLATES of Jonathan Swift’s *GULLIVER’S TRAVELS*, published in London & New York by J.M. Dent & Co. and E.P. Dutton & Co. in 1909. While Rackham had provided line drawings for a smaller 1899 version, this iconic 1909 release marks the very first time his world-famous full-colour illustrations were published for this classic—a true cornerstone for collectors of Golden Age illustration. This is a book of satirical wonder so special that it deserves a description worthy of it, one in which you, the bidder and future guardian, become the protagonist: Once upon a time, there was a collector who believed he was searching for a rare edition. He did not yet know that, in truth, the volume was waiting for him. On a quiet shelf, preserved away from the rush of passing decades, lay an exquisite 1909 printing of "Gulliver's Travels", dressed in its original publisher’s blue cloth and stamped in luminous gold. This was no ordinary printing: it was the historic edition in which Arthur Rackham’s art first bloomed into full, magical colour. When opened, the horizons expanded. Lilliputian shores emerged, giants loomed against distant skies, and the sharp wit of Jonathan Swift met Rackham's vibrant palette for the very first time. Rackham captured Swift’s satire with unprecedented brilliance, introducing 12 full-page colour plates alongside his masterful line work. His Lilliputians were alive with mischievous intent, his Brobdingnagians monumental yet delicate. Every colour plate carried a whisper of Golden Age enchantment—unaltered, timeless, and newly illuminated. Whoever turned those pages understood something essential: before fantasy became modern spectacle, it was crafted with ink, paper, and rich watercolor tones. And that magic remained intact in this landmark first colour edition, like a voyage perfectly preserved in time. Over the decades, copies in such vivid blue cloth carrying all original colour plates have grown ever scarcer, tucked away in private collections or worn down through generations of reading. Few endure with their original binding and complete colour artwork intact. The collector closed the volume with care. He realized that certain books are not merely acquired—they are inherited from time itself. They do not demand attention; they command affection. From that day on, the volume was never alone again. And each time he passed his library shelf, he would smile: he had learned that the greatest journeys never truly end—they simply await their next traveler. EXQUISITE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER FIRST EDITION FEATURING ARTHUR RACKHAM’S COLOUR PLATES (1909) FOR GULLIVER'S TRAVELS. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. LANGUAGE: English PLACE AND YEAR OF PUBLICATION: London & New York, 1909, J.M. Dent & Co. and E.P. Dutton & Co. (FIRST EDITION WITH RACKHAM'S COLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS / FIRST EDITION THUS). SIZE AND PAGINATION: Dimensions: Octavo, approx. 23.5 x 16.5 cm. Pagination: XV + 291 pp. Illustrations: First edition containing the 12 full-page colour plates by Arthur Rackham, along with numerous black & white drawings, headpieces, tailpieces, and illustrated endpapers. COMPLETE WORK. CONDITION: Original publisher's blue cloth binding in good overall condition. Spine and front cover beautifully decorated with original gilt designs and lettering, showing bright shelf presence. Minor shelf wear to corners and spine ends. Interior in very good, clean, and tight condition. Complete with all 12 historic full-page colour plates and original line illustrations throughout. A GOOD AND DESIRABLE COPY FOR COLLECTORS OF ARTHUR RACKHAM AND GOLDEN AGE ILLUSTRATION. EXQUISITE AND HIGHLY SOUGHT-AFTER 1909 FIRST COLOUR EDITION OF JONATHAN SWIFT'S GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, ILLUSTRATED BY ARTHUR RACKHAM. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. SHIPPING POLICY: Shipping to Spain: via Zeleris Premium 24h or CORREOS Shipping to Europe: via UPS Express 48–72h / FedEx Express 48–72h (Transit times may be longer in some countries) Shipping to the United States: via UPS Express 48h / FedEx Express 48h (According to our clients, these carriers are less strict or do not apply the new 15% import tax on products) Shipping to China: via UPS Express 24h Shipping to the Rest of the World: via UPS Express 48h / FedEx Express 48h The book will be carefully packaged to ensure it enjoys a safe and comfortable journey to its new home.

Estimate:£126.91

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