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Samuel Johnson. A Dictionary of the English Language: In which the Words are deduced from their Originals, and Illustrated... (Total: 2 )
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Description
The very fine Hersholt copy in a magnificent near-contemporary binding
Samuel Johnson. A Dictionary of the English Language: In
which the Words are deduced from their Originals, and Illustrated
in their Different Significations by Examples from the best
Writers. To which are prefixed, A History of the Language, and an
English Grammar. London: W. Strahan for J. and P. Knapton; T.
and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J.
Dodsley, 1765.2 volumes, folio (16 3/8 by 10 1/8 inches; 417 x 257 mm). Titles in red and black, woodcut tail-pieces. Late 18th- or early 19th-century diced russia, covers with elaborately tooled gilt borders, spine richly gilt in seven compartments with six raised bands, gilt-decorated green morocco spine labels in three (one containing the Hutton crest).
FIRST EDITION of Johnson's greatest literary achievement and "the most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the field of lexicography" (PMM). His monumental work drew on all the best ideas and aspects of earlier dictionaries and was published on 15 April 1755 in an edition of 2,000 copies. Johnson, assisted by his successive amanuenses, took just over eight years to list the 40,000 words found in the Dictionary. He illustrated his definitions with over 114,000 citations drawn from English writing in every field of learning during the two centuries from the middle of the Elizabethan period down to his own time, even rewriting some to fit his purposes. The group of publishers whose names appear in the imprint were joint proprietors, having paid Johnson £1575 in installments for copy.
A VERY FINE, TALL COPY IN A MAGNIFICENT NEAR-CONTEMPORARY BINDING.
Condition: Some wear to joints and board edges; corners bumped and worn; covers and spine bands lightly rubbed; hinges tender. Vol. I: some pale dampstaining to upper margins on quires E-G; some occasional light toning or minor spotting. Vol II: small marginal chip on lower margin of leaf 20U2; tiny hole just touching letter on 22B1; small adhesion on text on 23F2; some pale marginal dampstaining to fore-margins at end (quires 29T-30Z).
References: Chapman and Hazen p. 137; Courtney and Smith p. 54; Fleeman I, p. 410; Grolier, English 50; PMM 201; Rothschild 1237.
Provenance: Thomas Hutton, of Goldsborough in Yorkshire (1757-1845), book and print collector (armorial bookplate, and crest on binding, with a crest, three broad arrows, two in saltire and one in pale points upwards enfiled of a ducal coronet); Jean Hersholt (bookplate; his sale Parke-Bernet Galleries, 23-24 March 1954, lot 526). From the William A. Strutz Library.
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Auction Info
2024 June 27 Important English and American Literature: The William A. Strutz Library, Part I, Rare Books Signature® Auction #6295 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2024
27th
Thursday
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