[Rarebooks] FS: First Edition of Samuel Johnson's Monumental Dictionary, 1755

[Charles Agvent]

JOHNSON, Samuel. 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. Knapton et al., 1755. First Edition. Two tall, thick 
folio (10-1/2" x 17") volumes, each with a title page, in contemporary 
calf leather neatly rebacked with the original spines with contrasting 
red and black morocco spine labels. The true First Edition of Johnson's 
great literary labor, “a monument of industry and talent [and] the 
unrivalled authority for the English language” (COURTNEY AND SMITH, page 
54) and “the most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the 
field of lexicography” (PRINTING AND THE MIND OF MAN). SLATE contributor 
Adam Kirsch in a 2003 NPR broadcast said this about Johnson's 
DICTIONARY: "The modern dictionary's ideal reader is a Martian 
scientist: someone with no background knowledge who wants a unique 
definition for every word. Johnson's dictionary, on the other hand, 
implies a reader much like Johnson himself: a curious and intelligent 
English speaker who wants to gain a fuller sense of words he already 
knows. Johnson clearly recognizes the paradox of the dictionary-- you 
have to know most of what's in it in order to use it" ("Slate's 
Culturebox: Johnson's 18th-Century English," DAY TO DAY, 24 September 
2003). Volume 1 title page with small paper repair to upper fore-edge; 
volume 2 title page damp-stained; occasional light spotting, the second 
volume with occasional light marginal damp-staining. Near Fine, 
attractive copy. (#021535)     $15,000

https://www.charlesagvent.com/pages/books/021535/samuel-johnson/a-dictionary-of-the-english-language-in-which-the-words-are-deduced-from-their-originals-and

-- 
All books subject to prior sale. Cash with order; institutions may be billed.
Postage additional: $12.00 for the first item; $6.00 for each thereafter for
Priority; $8 for the first item; $4 for each thereafter for Media Mail. Overseas
postage billed at approximate cost. Pennsylvania residents must add 6% sales tax.
Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover accepted. Books may be returned
within 7 days of receipt for any reason provided they are in the same condition as
sent and prior notice is given. Please insure returns for their full value. We carry
a diverse stock with major specialties including Modern and 19th Century Literary
First Editions, Signed Books, Presidential Autographs, Illustrated Books, and one of
the largest inventories of Limited Editions Club books. We have been in business
since 1987 and are proud to be members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of
America (ABAA) and the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB).
Please feel free to contact us with any wants or offerings. Thank you.

CHARLES AGVENT

37 Ridge Drive

Fleetwood, PA 19522-9638

484-575-8825

charles at charlesagvent.com

Please visit our shop: https://www.charlesagvent.com


-- 
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com