Dictionary of the English Language; by JOHNSON, Samuel - 1818

First Complete American Edition of "A Dictionary of the English Language" JOHNSON, Samuel. 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: together with a history of the language, and an English grammar... First American, From the Eleventh London Edition...To Which are Added, Walker's Principles of the English Pronunciation. Philadelphia: Moses Thomas, 1818. First complete American edition. Two thick quarto volumes. (Measures 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches). Complete with half-titles and the engraved frontispiece portrait of Johnson after Reynolds. Vol I: [124] & unpaginated lexicon in triple column, collating [*1-*2] & b1-d2, elr2, A1-6X4; vol. II: [4] & unpaginated lexicon, collating [1*-*2] & B1-7D4, pp. Original full brown calf, red and black morocco labels on spine, gilt-stamped. Some worming to last few pages in vol. II on top margin, affecting a couple headline letters, also some dampstaining to last few pages on inside margin, extremities rubbed, some cracking to rear outer hinge but still very sound. A very good and rare copy in the original binding. Heavily abridged versions in miniature format had appeared in America as early as 1804, but bear no resemblance to Johnson's incomparable original. Courtney & Nichol Smith, pp. 58-60; Shaw & Shomaker 44473; Alston V. HBS 67202. $4,500