Books

London: W. & A. Strahan [et al.], 1784. Fifth edition, the last to be issued in Johnson's lifetime; 2 volumes, folio, titles printed in red and black, lexicon in double column; full slightly later calf, rebacked, gilt decorated spine in 7 compartments with gilt labels in 2; boards rubbed and bumped, headband of vol. 1 worn, heraldic bookplate of William Hutcheson Poë and water color landscape on pastedowns, abrasion on title page of vol. 1 resulting in closed tears, foxed, 20O1-20P1 of vol.2 with neat repairs to a closed tear in gutter, gutters split with a crease on both spines, gatherings 10T & *10T swapped, good and sound. This is the only reprinting of the corrected fourth edition issued in Johnson's lifetime, and it is the last of the two-volume folio editions. One thousand copies were printed. The sixth edition (issued in weekly numbers and in 2 vols. quarto) and the seventh edition (issued in 1 volume folio) were issued in 1785 immediately following Johnson's death to compete…

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.