From the library of the artist Eric Kennington

[Swift, Jonathan]; Jones, David [Illustrations]; Eric Gill [Initials] ~ Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. [Gulliver’s Travels]

The Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham Saint Lawrence : 1925

The sole UK printing published by The Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham Saint Lawrence in 1925. 2 Vols. set. Number ‘195’ from a limited edition of only 450 copies. Illustrated with 42 woodcuts by David Jones (many hand-coloured) and 27 initials by Eric Gill. Bound in the publisher's cream linen cloth with spines lettered in gilt. Very Good+ or better copies with light edge wear and traces of rubbing to the cloth as often encountered. Offsetting to the end-papers and some light age spotting in places. Many pages remain uncut as issued. Both copies bear the stamp of “Kennington, Homer House, Ipsden, Oxon’ to the front end-papers. A beautiful fine press edition of Jonathan Swift's enduring satirical 18th-century novel being the first Golden Cockerel Press book with the artist and polymath David Jones' illustrations. Many of the illustrations are hand coloured. Eric Gill provided the cuts for the Initials. The volumes are reproduced from the text of the Henry G. Bohn edition of 1864 under the careful supervision of Robert Gibbings after Hal Taylor's death in 1925. A charming production that weaves vignettes of the story's protagonist and narrator, Gulliver, through his several unusual voyages. Eric Kennington R.A. was an English sculptor, artist and illustrator, and an official war artist in both of the world wars. As a war artist, Kennington specialised in depictions of the daily hardships endured by soldiers and airmen. In the inter-war years he worked mostly on portraits and a number of book illustrations. The most notable of his book illustrations were for T. E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Kennington was also a gifted sculptor, best known for his 24th Division War Memorial in Battersea Park, for his work on the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and for the effigy of Lawrence at Wareham in Dorset. He resided at Homer House, Ipsden for many years. Both books are protected in Mylar archival covers. A scarce set and more-so with such a wonderful association. 2026 marks the 300th anniversary of the first publication of 'Gulliver's Travels'.

BINDINGS: Hardcover
CONDITION: VG+