The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, in Thirteen Volumes, complete, 1768, Edinburgh

This early and more comprehensive collected edition of Jonathan Swift’s writings represents a significant moment in the dissemination of his satirical and political works in the decades following his death. First issued in parts between 1752 and 1754, this Edinburgh-based set was praised at the time for its scope, editorial additions, and typographic clarity. It includes Gulliver’s Travels, The Tale of a Tub, political pamphlets, poetry, correspondence, and biographical material, along with detailed indexes and explanatory notes not always present in earlier editions.

Bibliographically, this is the Teerink 97 edition — recorded in H. Teerink's A Bibliography of the Writings in Prose and Verse of Jonathan Swift (1937) — and is noted for its mixed Edinburgh and London imprint across volumes. Vols I–X bear the imprint of Eben. Wilson, bookseller in Dumfries, while Vols XI–XIII are printed by Alexander Donaldson, a notable Edinburgh publisher associated with affordable reprints and the fight against London copyright monopolies.

The Works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin. With the Author's Life and Character; Notes Historical; and Explanatory; Tables of Contents, and Indexes. More complete than any preceding Edition. In Thirteen Volumes. Accurately corrected by the best Editions.

Edinburgh: Printed for Eben. Wilson, Bookseller in Dumfries (Vols 1-10), and Printed by A. Donaldson, and sold at his shops in London and Edinburgh (Vols 11-13) – Teerink 97. All dated to 1768.

A good full set of this collected works, bound in contemporary calf With raised bands to spine, and gilt Volume number. The burgundy morocco title labels are largely missing, and Volume 10 is bound a little differently - slightly darker brown, gilt tooled decoration to spine panels, and about 7mm shorter in height, but the contents are the same edition. Covers with some bumping and scuffing, and head and tails of spine are worn. The volumes present an attractive antiquarian leather patina.

All volumes are soundly bound and text is largely clean and bright with occasional scattered age spot or age-related flaw, but these are minor. Volume I with a single worm trail to xva, where it becomes a singular marginal pin hole to p.73. Volume X, which has been from a different source has more pronounced browning to its pages. Overall, the books are very well presented for a scarce 18th Century set.

Twelve volumes are signed on the title page by Anthony Murray of Crieff, and bear matching private library spine labels consistent with other known books from the Murray family collection. Murray, known as “Auld Dullerie,” was part of a scholarly Scottish lineage with connections to the University of Leiden, the Jacobite rising, and military and scientific service through the 18th and 19th centuries.

Vol. I: lxvi + 297pp; 

Vol. II: (ii) + 351pp; 

Vol. III: iv + 343pp; 

Vol. IV: v + 390pp; 

Vol. V: VI + 366pp; 

Vol. VI: VIII + 324pp; 

Vol. VII: vii + 344pp; 

Vol. VIII: viii + 391pp; 

Vol. IX: vi + 367pp; 

Vol. X: xi + 342pp + (44) Index; 

Vol. XI: vi + 383pp; 

Vol. XII: (i) + 390pp; and; 

Vol. XIII: vii + 300pp + 301-314 Index for Vols XI, XII, XIII; 

Text in English.

Approximate dimensions: Each volume 181mm x 110mm x c. 29mm.

Weight: Approximately 4.4kg (the set - unpacked).