A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals . abstracted from the folio edition by the author . to which are prefixed a grammar of the English language, and the preface to the folio edition

Johnson, Samuel

Published by Johnson and Warner, Philadelphia, 1813

About this Item

8vo, 2 parts in 1, as issued, pp. 40, 385, [1]; 341, [1]; text in double column; full contemporary sheep, red morocco label on gilt-paneled spine; text lightly toned, but generally very good and sound. With an early ownership signature on the front free endpaper of "E, Jones" who has sophisticated this copy by inking the fore-edge with place marks for each letter of the alphabet, and with his or her name "E. Jones" at the bottom. The patent for the thumb-index, which this sophistication presages, wasn't granted until October 7, 1884 to C.H. Denison of New York. A reprint of the 1805 first American edition of Johnson printed in abridged (i.e. not miniature) form, and based on the London octavos. Contains the full text of Johnson's famous Preface and Grammar. The entries have been abbreviated, but bear considerable resemblance to the originals, and there are also brief etymologies; sources are cited, but citations are not. The first complete American edition did not appear until the 2-volume quarto edition of Philadelphia, 1818. Miniature editions appeared in Boston and Philadelphia in 1804 under Johnson's name, but the definitions bear no resemblance whatsoever to the originals; see Alston V, p. 37-39: "These [miniature editions] though having Johnson's name on the title-p., really have nothing whatever to do with the full text . but they have been entered here since they are generally catalogued under Johnson's name." American Imprints 28842; Vancil, p. 124. Seller Inventory # 58042

Bibliographic Details

Title: A dictionary of the English language: in ...

Publisher: Johnson and Warner, Philadelphia

Publication Date: 1813

Binding: Hardcover