Gulliver's Travels.
London: The Cresset Press, 1930. Large 4to. 2 volumes, set. Limited edition. #66 of 195 copies on hand-made paper. Original half viridian niger with vellum boards by Wood. Top edges gilt, others uncut. Twelve engraved plates, five maps, four head- and four tail-pieces by Rex Whistler. The twelve plates were hand-coloured under the artist's supervision. The spines are faded and the boards are tanned, with rubbing to the leading edges and corner tips. The usual offsetting from the colour plates. Contents clean and fresh. Very good +. Item #8642
Whistler's magnum opus of illustration. Apparently inspired by Richard Bentley's Designs for Six Poems by Mr T.Gray of 1753, he drew the illustrations within elaborate rococo frames, each one different, many reflecting his love of Baroque architecture. He spent months on the detailed pen and ink drawings; according to his brother Laurence he sat up all night drawing one wheatsheaf.
Price: £6,250.00