


Lot 119•
JOHNSON (SAMUEL) A Dictionary of the English Language, 2 vol., FIRST EDITION, 1755
Ending from 19 November 2025, 12:00 GMT
Online, London, Knightsbridge£2,000 - £3,000
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JOHNSON (SAMUEL)
A Dictionary of the English Language, 2 vol., FIRST EDITION, titles printed in red and black, lower corner of title to volume 1 with small repair and following 5 leaves with piece of corner torn away (replaced) and next 2 with corner strengthened with archival tape (toned), damp-stain to title and opening 15 leaves of volume 2 (title partly strengthened in old paper on verso), and very thin traces of worming in margin towards end, calf antique, spine tooled in gilt with red and brown morocco lettering labels [Courtney & Smith, p.54; Chapman & Hazen, p.137; Rothschild 1237; PMM 201], folio (410 x 255mm.), J. and P. Knapton, 1755
Footnotes
THE FIRST EDITION OF THE FIRST STANDARD ENGLISH DICTIONARY. "I have... attempted a dictionary of the English language, which, while it was employed in the cultivation of every species of literature, has itself been hitherto neglected, suffered to spread, under the direction of chance, into wild exuberance, resigned to the tyranny of time and fashion, and exposed to the ignorance, and caprices of innovations" (Preface).