Books

London: printed for Longman, Rees [et al.], 1818. First edition, first issue, of the first revision of Johnson's Dictionary, 5 volumes, 4to, engraved portrait after Reynolds, text in double column; full contemporary tree calf rebacked, old spines laid down, new red and green morocco labels; early owners' signatures and annotations on endpapers; a good, firm, useable set, with the half-titles. The first (5 volume) issue is far scarcer than the 4-volume issue of the same year. In it, volume 5, beginning with the letter T, contains the addition of a drop title at the top of leaf B1. B1 here corresponds to 6L3 in the 4-volume issue. In the 4-volume issue the pagination is continuous through the end of the fourth volume, but is paginated separately. Leaf 6L3 is signed "Vol. IV 6L3 - Vol. V. B." On the title-pp. of the 5-volume version is the statement "In Five Volumes," as opposed to "In Four Volumes" in the 4-volume issue. "Todd made some additions to Johnson's grammar and history…

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.