[SWIFT, Jonathan]. A Short Character of His Ex. T. E. of W. L. L. of I ----. London: William Coryton, 1711 [but 1710]. 8° (180 x 110mm). Final blank. (Light spotting on title and final leaf.) Early 20th-century quarter green roan, top edge gilt, others uncut (joints rubbed). Provenance: T.A. Hollick (pencil attribution; sold Sotheby’s London, 19-20 May 1980, lot 286).
[SWIFT, Jonathan]. A Short Character of His Ex. T. E. of W. L. L. of I ----. London: William Coryton, 1711 [but 1710]. 8° (180 x 110mm). Final blank. (Light spotting on title and final leaf.) Early 20th-century quarter green roan, top edge gilt, others uncut (joints rubbed). Provenance: T.A. Hollick (pencil attribution; sold Sotheby’s London, 19-20 May 1980, lot 286).

Details
[SWIFT, Jonathan]. A Short Character of His Ex. T. E. of W. L. L. of I ----. London: William Coryton, 1711 [but 1710]. 8° (180 x 110mm). Final blank. (Light spotting on title and final leaf.) Early 20th-century quarter green roan, top edge gilt, others uncut (joints rubbed). Provenance: T.A. Hollick (pencil attribution; sold Sotheby’s London, 19-20 May 1980, lot 286).

FIRST EDITION, HOLLICK COPY, third issue, published in December, 1710. T. E. of W. = Thomas Wharton, Earl of Wharton (1648-1715). A founder of the Whig party, Wharton lost his offices on the accession of Queen Anne, but served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1708-1710 with Addison as Chief Secretary. In the Examiner no. 18, 30 November 1710, Swift attacked him under the name of Verres for his misgovernment of the country. A few days later he published this pamphlet which is considered to be “among the most brilliant pieces of vituperation written by Swift … the analysis of Wharton becomes merely a specific, if the most outrageous, instance of a long chain of abominations” (Ehrenpreis, Swift. ii. 443). Rothschild 2011; Teerink 529.

[SWIFT, Jonathan]. Some Remarks on the Barrier Treaty, between Her Majesty and the States-General. London: John Morphew, 1712. 8° (210 x 138mm). (Some soiling.) Stitched and uncut; red cloth folding case. FIRST EDITION of this eloquent and strongly anti-Dutch pamphlet. “The moral and social chaos which Swift came to identify with Whiggism he always saw brazenly exalted in the United Provinces” (Swift. ii. 542). Teerink 559; Goldsmiths’ 4973.

More from Selections from the Davidson Collection: Important English and American Literature and Historical Americana

View All
View All