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A Dictionary of the English Language

A Dictionary of the English Language

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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. In Two Volumes. The Fifth Edition.

by JOHNSON, Samuel

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  • Hardcover
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About This Item

London: for W. Strahan, J. F. & C. Rivington, L. Davis, T. Payne & Son, W. Owen, T. Longman, B. Law [& 19 others],, 1784. The final lifetime edition First published in 1755, this is the last lifetime edition (Johnson died later that year) of one of the most famous books in the English language, the last of the initial sequence of editions in the original folio format. The text is that of the fourth edition, Johnson's only major revision of his text, with the unabridged entries and citations of usage by those Johnson considered the best authors. Two volumes, folio (425 x 260 mm). Contemporary black morocco, skilfully rebacked and relined, boards ruled in gilt with a french fillet, fleurons at corners, decorative roll gilt to turn-ins. Title-pages in red and black. Bookplates of Admiral Sir Charles Little (1882-1973). Sides a little scuffed in places, a little spotting and toning towards beginning and end of each volume, small chips at peripheries of initial few leaves of vol. I, an excellent copy. Courtney & Nichol Smith p. 57; PMM 201.

Synopsis

Surprising, colorful, and long-forgotten entries from the most famous dictionary in the history of the English language Samuel Johnson's best-known work, A Dictionary of the English Language (1755), is the most influential and idiosyncratic lexicon ever written and was used by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, the Brontës and the Brownings, Thomas Hardy and Oscar Wilde. This anthology includes 4,000 of the most representative, entertaining, and historically fascinating entries, covering subjects from fashion to food, science to sex, and given in full with original spelling and examples of usage from Shakespeare to Milton.

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Details

Bookseller
Peter Harrington GB (GB)
Bookseller's Inventory #
155175
Title
A Dictionary of the English Language
Author
JOHNSON, Samuel
Book Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
Place of Publication
London: for W. Strahan, J. F. & C. Rivington, L. Davis, T. Payne & Son, W. Owen, T. Longman, B. Law [& 19 others],
Date Published
1784
Note
May be a multi-volume set and require additional postage.

Terms of Sale

Peter Harrington

All major credit cards are accepted. Both UK pounds and US dollars (exchange rate to be agreed) accepted. Books may be returned within 14 days of receipt for any reason, please notify first of returned goods.

About the Seller

Peter Harrington

Seller rating:
This seller has earned a 5 of 5 Stars rating from Biblio customers.
Biblio member since 2006
London

About Peter Harrington

Since its establishment, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. Peter Harrington first began selling rare books from the Chelsea Antiques Market on London's King's Road. For the past twenty years the business has been run by Pom Harrington, Peter's son.

Glossary

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Morocco
Morocco is a style of leather book binding that is usually made with goatskin, as it is durable and easy to dye. (see also...
Leaves
Very generally, "leaves" refers to the pages of a book, as in the common phrase, "loose-leaf pages." A leaf is a single sheet...
Rebacked
having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
Gilt
The decorative application of gold or gold coloring to a portion of a book on the spine, edges of the text block, or an inlay in...
Folio
A folio usually indicates a large book size of 15" in height or larger when used in the context of a book description. Further,...
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