Books

London: by W. Strahan for W. Strahan, J.& F. Rivington [and others], 1773. 2 volumes. The Fourth edition, the highly important final folio edition to be revised by Johnson himself. Provenance: Sir James & Lucy Esdaile (inscription dated (?)1775); James Kennedy Esdaile (armorial bookplate); Edmund Esdaile, Pembroke College, Oxford (inscription). Title-pages printed in red and black. Royal folio (425 X 265mm), in original binding of full calf over thick boards, the backs expertly restored to full period grandeur with elaborate gilt tooled compartments with grand central tools and extensive additional tooling all in gilt between gilt decorated bands, two compartments with contrasting red and green labels gilt lettered and decorated, endpapers marbled. A very attractive set, the original calf with some pleasant age, corners consolidated, first two leaves of Vol. I with some normal creasing, the text clean and fresh, withal a very solid, handsome copy in fine state. A VERY…

Samuel Johnson's 'A Dictionary of the English Language' is among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language. First published on 15 April 1755, the dictionary offered comprehensive definitions and illustrative examples of usage.