Books

London: printed by John Jarvis and sold by John Fielding, 1786. Sixth Edition. Very Good. 2 vols., 4to, 10 1/4 x 8 1/2 inches (260 x 210 mm); Vol. 1: engraved frontispiece after Bartolozzi, title page,[54] Preface, Grammar, History, Lexicon A through K in triple column; Vol. 2: Title page, Life of Samuel Johnson, Lexicon L through Z in triple column, Appendix. Contemporary mottled calf binding with gilt tooling on covers, vol. 1 in lighter brown; marbled endpapers; both volumes professionally rebacked in matching calf, with red morocco labels & gilt titles. Bindings square, covers show signs of usage, especially volume 1 with lower corner worn and lower cover scratched; paper is evenly toned with very faint foxing at prelims, with 2 small tears in the front and back pages of vol. 1, and a 1 inch section missing on one of the index pages. [Sledd & Kolb, p.128]. One of the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language, and was the preeminent English dictionary…

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.