Swift, Jonathan (1667--1745) - Biography
[Works. Hawkesworth. 1768-1779. Volumes 1-14]
The works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick's, Dublin, accurately revised in twelve volumes, adorned with copper-plates; with some account of the author's life, and notes historical and explanatory, by John Hawkesworth, LL.D.
London (Place), printed for W. Bowyer, C. Bathurst, W. Owen, W. Strahan, J. Rivington, J. Hinton, L. Davis and C. Reymers, R. Baldwin, J. Dodsley, S. Crowder and Co. and B. Collins,, 1768.
14 vols : [27] pl. ; 21.6 cm. (8º)

The so-called Hawkesworth editions of the collected works of Swift, completed by Deane Swift and John Nichols, were published in four sizes: the quarto edition begun in 1755 and eventually comprising 14 volumes; large octavo, begun in 1754-5 and reprinted from 1768 (25 volumes); small octavo, begun in 1760 (26 volumes) and reprinted 1766 (27 volumes); and 18mo, begun in 1765 (27 volumes). Seven distinct stages of publication have been distinguished in the production of this group of editions, which were completed with the addition of the second volume of the Supplement in 1779 (q.v.). For a full bibliographical description and overview, see H. Teerink and Arthur H. Scouten, A bibliography of the writings of Jonathan Swift, 2nd ed. (Philadelphia 1963), pp. 80-83 and table, p. 104. The Soane set is the 1768 large octavo edition in twenty-five volumes. The present catalogue entry describes the first fourteen volumes as issued in 1768; separate catalogue entries describe volumes XV--XVII (q.v.), six volumes of Letters, 1768--9 (q.v.; q.v.) and the two-volume Supplement, 1776--9 (q.v.). The first twelve volumes were first published in 1754-5, and volumes XIII and XIV (edited by William Bowyer and including many pieces reprinted from Faulkner's Dublin edition) added in 1764. The general title-page as above is in volume I only; the title-pages to volumes II--XIV read The works of Dr. Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin. Volume …, with the imprint of C. Bathurst only in vols I--VI, XII, and of W. Bowyer, L. Davis and C. Reymers, and J. Dodsley in vols XIII-XIV. All title-pages are printed in red and black. In volume III leaf G8 (pp. 85-6) was cancelled and reprinted with a footnote on p. [86] as leaf H1; both are present in the Soane copy. The plates are numbered through 1 to 25 across volumes I—VI; there are additionally four pages of engraved music at the end of vol. VII. Partial contents: Vol. I: An account of the life of ... Jonathan Swift; A tale of a tub, [with] an Account of a battle of the books; A discourse concerning the mechanical operation of the spirit. -- Vol. II: Travels into several remote nations of the world ... [i.e. Gulliver's Travels]. -- Vol. III: Miscellanies [1] (including a piece by John Partridge); -- Vol. IV: Miscellanies [2]. -- Vol. V: Miscellanies [3]. -- Vol. VI: Verse miscellanies [1]. -- Vol. VII: Verse miscellanies [2]; -- Vol. VIII: The Examiner; Some advice to the members of the October Club. -- IX: The Publick spirit of the Whigs; The conduct of the allies, and other political tracts; Tracts relating to Ireland [1]. -- X: Tracts relating to Ireland [2]. -- XI: Miscellanies and dialogues. -- XII: Rules that concern all servants; Letters to and from Dr. Swift [1]; ... The last will of Dean Swift. -- XIII: Miscellanies [4]. -- XIV: Letters from Dr Swift; Letters relative to Mr Faulkner; Letters to Dr King; Letters to and from Dr Swift [2]; Poems. ESTC t52752 (vols I--XII), ESTC t141027 (vol. XIII), ESTC t141026 (vol. XIV); Teerink-Scouten 89.

Copy Notes Plates in vol. I are misplaced. Bound as volumes I--XIV in a collected set of the large octavo edition in 25 volumes.

Binding C18th tree calf, gilt roll-tooled borders to the covers, gilt-tooled spine, red and green morocco spine-labels lettered in gilt 'Swift's Works.' and 'Vol: I. (- XIV.)'.

Reference Number 631

Additional Names Hawkesworth, John (1715?--1773); Bowyer, William (1699--1777); Partridge, John (1644--1715)