Books and Manuscripts

London: Printed by W. Strahan, For J. and P. Knapton, et al., 1755. In two volumes. First edition. Thick folio. Unpaginated. Title-pages printed in red and black; text printed in double column. Full contemporary calf, original red and green morocco spine labels, stamped in gilt, rebacked, corners and edges sometime renewed, boards rubbed and scratched, spines worn and dry, cracked, and splitting; red speckled edges; title-page of first volume repaired along fore-edge and top corner, wear along bottom edge of same; front free endpaper, title-page and first two leaves of Preface starting; bottom corner of leaf 21M clipped but not affecting text; small repair in bottom corner of terminal leaf in second volume; scattered light to moderate foxing and toning in each volume; scattered dampstaining in bottom edge of several rear leaves in each volume; title-page in second volume creased; armorial book-plate of Thomas Handasyde on front paste-down of each volume. Courtney & Smith, p. 54; Fleeman 55.4D/1a; PMM 201

First edition of Johnson's magnum opus, often considered one of the greatest works in the English language. "Dr. Johnson performed with his Dictionary the most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the field of lexicography...it took Johnson less than ten years from writing his first prospectus in 1746 to publication day, 14 June 1755...Johnson's Dictionary is divided into four parts: the preface, in which he expounds--largely in the steps of Ephraim Chambers--the aims and problems of lexicography; a history and a grammar of the English language...and finally the dictionary proper...Johnson introduced into English lexicography principles which had already been accepted in Europe but were quite novel in mid-eighteenth-century England. He codified the spelling of English words; he gave full and lucid definitions of their meanings (often entertainingly coloured by his High Church and Tory propensities); and he adduced extensive and apt illustrations from a wide range of authoratative writers." (John Carter, Printing and the Mind of Man, pp. 121)