Books

London: printed by John Jarvis, and sold by John Fielding, No. 23 Paternoster-Row, 1786. 2 volumes, 4to, frontispiece portrait after Bartolozzi, [74] plus unpaginated lexicon in triple column; [2] & unpaginated lexicon; half-title in volume I with fore-margin neatly reinforced, full contemporary reversed calf, red and black morocco labels; occasional spotting; a very good, sound copy. A scarce edition. Contains a Life of Johnson, the original preface, and the History of the English Language, with the grammar. Includes a 6-page Appendix of Words either totally Omitted from Johnson's Dictionary, or used in senses in which he gives no Instances of their Application. In this edition the title pages are Fleeman's variant C. "The variant title-pp. are variously attached to the volumes, and no pattern is yet established. There is no half-title in vol. 2. Jarvis's printing shop was damaged by fire, 7 June 1787 with some loss of stock ... Since the work was published in 48 weekly numbers at…

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.