An American dictionary of the English language: intended to exhibit, I. the origin… II. the genuine orthography… III. accurate and discriminating definitions… by Webster, Noah - 1828

New York: S. Converse. Printed by Hezekiah Howe, New Haven. 1828. First edition of Webster's greatest dictionary, his magnum opus, and arguably the most popular American book ever published. Only 2500 were printed.Two big quarto volumes, engraved portrait after Samuel F.B. Morse, unpaginated text in triple column (collated complete), the 44 preliminary leaves in vol. I containing Webster's preface on the history of the dictionary, his introductory dissertation "on the origin, history and connection of the languages of western Asia and of Europe," and a grammar, revised and updated from his own of 1807. With the terminal printed "Additions" leaf in Volume II which is never lacking (unless the book is defective), even though many descriptions of the book suggest that it is sometimes lacking; this "Additions" is the second leaf in gathering 116 - the third and fourth leaves in 116 are blank, and are both present in this copy. But without, as usual, the separately printed "Advertisement" leaf (dated Nov. 28, 1828) which is almost always lacking (distinct from the Advertisement appearing on G3 and G4 in the first volume). The November 28 Advertisement, a loose quarto sheet which was separately published and not part of the collation, was ostensibly given by Webster to his subscribers in order that he might 'be permitted to make a few statements and explanations which would have been less appropriate in the body of the work.' Skeel makes no note of this separately printed sheet being exclusive to subscribers' copies. In fact, it was integral in the British edition which appeared in 1831-32.Contemporary full calf, red and black morocco labels; a very good, handsome and sound copy - better than most. "This dictionary, which almost at once became, and has remained, the standard English dictionary in the United States, was the end-product of a stream of spelling books, grammars, readers, and dictionaries which flowed from the pen of the industrious Noah Webster. Webster's great dictionary, all the 70,000 entries of which he wrote with his own hand … The book marked a definite advance in modern lexicography, as it included many non-literary terms and paid great attention to the language actually spoken. Moreover, his definitions of the meaning of words were accurate and concise and have for the greater part stood the test of time superbly well" (PMM). Grolier, American 100, 36. Sabin 102335. Skeel 583. Printing & the Mind of Man, 291.