A Dictionary of the English Language: In Which the Words are Deduced from Their Originals, and Illustrated in Their Different Significations by Examples from the Best Writers. To Which are Prefixed, a History of the Language, and an English Grammar

Johnson, Samuel

Edité par Printed by W. Strahan, for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, London, 1755

A propos de cet article

First edition, first printing. Two volumes, unpaginated. Folio, bound in period-style mottled calf with raised bands and morocco title labels to spines and decorative gold tooling to spines, edges, and turn-ins. Laid paper, marbled endpapers. Near Fine with minor scuffing and shallow scratches to covers. Soft creasing, light soiling, and skillfully repaired edges to Volume I title page; faint dampstain at lower left of Volume II title. Light age toning and thumbing to contents, discreetly repaired tear to lower edge of first 25 or so pages of Volume I. Contents overall bright, well protected by the sturdy fine binding. PMM 201. Samuel Johnson spent nine years writing his massive Dictionary of the English Language. It was a stunning achievement: whereas similar dictionaries in other countries had been compiled by large committees, this was the work of one man aided by six amanuenses. "The learned, yet judicious research of etymology," wrote Boswell in his Life of Samuel Johnson, "the various, yet accurate display of definition, and the rich collection of authorities, were reserved for the superior mind of our great philologist." Several booksellers contracted with Johnson to produce the Dictionary, for which he was paid ?1,575 -- a substantial sum in theory, but less so when taking into account the considerable expense of writing paper and transcription. The arduous work held Johnson's habitual depression at bay, but still he groaned under its weight. In 1753 he wrote in his diary: "O God, who hast hitherto supported me, enable me to proceed in this labour, and in the whole task of my present state; that when I shall render up, at the last day, an account of the talent committed to me, I may receive pardon, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen." The dictionary was published in a run of 2,000 copies in April 1755, considerably later than either Johnson or his bookseller backers had expected (the author had sanguinely imagined dedicating three years to the project). It was ushered into the world with a public recommendation from the Earl of Chesterfield, who wrote that the English language was in a state of anarchy after borrowing so many words during years of free trade and colonial expansion, and that good order and authority had become necessary. "We must have recourse to the old Roman expedient in times of confusion, and chuse a dictator. Upon this principle, I give my vote for Mr. Johnson, to fill that great and arduous post." For all the praise heaped upon the Dictionary by those who could afford to buy it, it sold poorly, those who could afford to buy it not being very numerous. The folio was priced at ?4 10s., well over $1,000 in today's money, and the publishers decided to produce an abridged octavo edition the following year at almost one-tenth the price. The new edition sold well: this was not the first English-language dictionary to be published, but it was by far the best, and it retained its place at the head of English lexicography until the Oxford English Dictionary was completed in 1928. Many of the OED's definitions were credited to Johnson.

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Détails bibliographiques

• Titre: A Dictionary of the English Language: In Which the Words are Deduced from Their Originals, and Illustrated in Their Different Significations by Examples from the Best Writers. To Which are Prefixed, a History of the Language, and an English Grammar
• Éditeur: Printed by W. Strahan, for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, London
• Date de parution: 1755
• Édition: First Edition.
• État de l'article: Near Fine
• Catalogues du vendeur:
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