Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum: or, a general English dictionary, comprehending a brief but emphatical and clear explication of all sorts of difficult words . to which is added a large collection of words and phrases . made use of in our ancient statutes, old records, charters, writs . an interpretation of the proper names of men and women . The whole work compil'd and methodically digested, for the benefit of young students, tradesmen, artificers, foreigners, and others who are desirous thoroughly to understand what they speak, read, or write

Kersey, John

Published by printed by J. Wilde, for J. Phillips [et al.], London, 1708

About this Item

First edition of the first abridged English dictionary, 8vo, unpaginated, collating: A2 B-Z4 2a-2h4 2A-3N4 4A-4O4 4P2 4Q-4X4; contemporary paneled calf, neat 20th century rebacking, red leather label on spine; front free endpaper and title page guarded; else very good and sound. With the ownership signature of Eliza Beale 1708 on both the front and rear pastedown, and Eliza Alston 1726 (same hand) on front free endpaper. Later ownerships signature of Vincent Novello, Bayswater, on front pastedown. Novello (1781-1861) was a noted English musician and music publisher. Alston V, 91 ("an unconfessed abridgement of Kersey's revision of Phillip's dictionary" - the New World of English Words, 1706 - "although it contains much dialectal material not found in that work"); Starnes & Noyes, pp. 95-97 ("Kersey's vocabulary, estimated at 35,000 words, far surpasses that of any preceding dictionary, with the single exception of the folio Kersey-Phillips, which, amazingly enough considering its difference in physical size, it almost equals"). Kennedy 6203; Vancil, p. 138.

Seller Inventory # 64327

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Dictionarium Anglo-Britannicum: or, a general English dictionary, comprehending a brief but emphatical and clear explication of all sorts of difficult words . to which is added a large collection of words and phrases . made use of in our ancient statutes, old records, charters, writs . an interpretation of the proper names of men and women . The whole work compil'd and methodically digested, for the benefit of young students, tradesmen, artificers, foreigners, and others who are desirous ...
• Publisher: printed by J. Wilde, for J. Phillips [et al.], London
• Publication Date: 1708
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Seller catalogs:
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