Books

Dublin: Thomas Ewing, 1775. First edition. Leather. Very Good. 10.5" by 8.5". None. A striking and important edition of Samuel Johnson's dictionary of the English language, the first complete edition to be printed in Ireland. The first edition thus, being the first quarto edition and first complete edition printed in Ireland. This printing is based on the fourth London folio edition of 1773, a conclusive edition which was the only one for which Johnson provided any additions or corrections.ESTC citation number T117233.Complete in two volumes. List of subscribers to the front of Volume I. Collated, complete.'A Dictionary of the English Language' is one of the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language, and was the pre-eminent English dictionary under the 'Oxford English Dictionary' was completed one-hundred and seventy-three years after Johnson's was published.Johnson took around seven years to complete this dictionary, and worked on it…

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.

First editions can be determined by the presence of certain misprints, as Johnson's Dictionary underwent numerous small alterations as later editions were printed. The first edition is also spread over two large, heavy volumes.