Books

London: J. Johnson, C. Dilly [and numerous others], 1799. Hardcover. London, J. Johnson, C. Dilly [and numerous others], 1799 ('eighth edition, corrected and revised')/ 1755. Large quarto, two volumes, unpaginated, but in excess of 2000 pages with an engraved frontispiece portrait in the first volume. Early full calf, the spines extensively tooled in gilt, with contrasting morocco lettering-pieces; both volumes expertly rebacked, retaining much of the original backstrips; scattered light foxing throughout (heavier on the leaves adjacent to the boards); first volume lacks its half-title; marginal stains and foxing to the frontispiece, with offsetting to the facing title page; early name-stamp to the verso of the frontispiece and the front free endpaper of the second volume; minor signs of age and use, but overall an attractive eighteenth-century edition of this classic work. Courtney and Smith: 'A Bibliography of Samuel Johnson', page 58. [2 items].

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.