Lot 199
The genesis of Gulliver's Travels.- Boyle (Robert) Occasional Reflections upon several Subjects, first edition, Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, 1665.
Hammer Price: £950
Description
The genesis of Gulliver's Travels.- Boyle (Robert) Occasional Reflections upon several Subjects, first edition, initial imprimatur leaf, title printed in red and black, small burn-hole in B4 slightly affecting text, later portrait mounted on rear endpaper, occasional foxing, later speckled calf, [Wing B4005; Fulton 64; Westwood & Satchell p.40], 8vo, Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, 1665.
⁂ Boyle's generally upbeat work, written largely while on holiday at Stalbridge, describes how he felt and thought - as he listened to a lark singing; as he picked up a horse-shoe; as he watched boys swimming with 'bladders'; as he fished with a 'counterfeit fly'; and as he listened to a lute being tuned and then 'excellently play'd on'. A reflection entitled 'The Eating of Oysters' is often considered to have been Swift's inspiration for Gulliver's Travels.
Provenance: J. C. Lynn (bookplate Bibliotheca Piscatoria Lynniana, sale of his Angling library, Sotheby's October 1959).
Description
The genesis of Gulliver's Travels.- Boyle (Robert) Occasional Reflections upon several Subjects, first edition, initial imprimatur leaf, title printed in red and black, small burn-hole in B4 slightly affecting text, later portrait mounted on rear endpaper, occasional foxing, later speckled calf, [Wing B4005; Fulton 64; Westwood & Satchell p.40], 8vo, Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, 1665.
⁂ Boyle's generally upbeat work, written largely while on holiday at Stalbridge, describes how he felt and thought - as he listened to a lark singing; as he picked up a horse-shoe; as he watched boys swimming with 'bladders'; as he fished with a 'counterfeit fly'; and as he listened to a lute being tuned and then 'excellently play'd on'. A reflection entitled 'The Eating of Oysters' is often considered to have been Swift's inspiration for Gulliver's Travels.
Provenance: J. C. Lynn (bookplate Bibliotheca Piscatoria Lynniana, sale of his Angling library, Sotheby's October 1959).