DICTIONARY OF LOVE. IN WHICH IS CONTAINED, THE EXPLANATION OF MOST OF THE TERMS USED IN THAT LANGUAGE by Cleland, John - 1753

Sold at all booksellers, Circa 1800. The first edition was published in 1753 by Ralph Griffiths and almost 200 years later, an examination of his records revealed that the until then anonymous auther was John Cleland. Cleland was an associate of Griffith's and both men were arrested as author and publisher over the erotic content contained in Cleland's book "Fanny Hill". This little dictionary went through many different editions, with the last version being printed as late as 1825. Cleland based his work on the french 'Dictionnaire d'Amour' by J F Dreux du Radier. Worldcat returns no result for this exact title. All results point to possibly earlier editions with the title ending '... terms used in that language' rather than 'terms used in the Love Language'. A sextodecimo with 128 pages and 335 entries. Bebacked spine with original cloth laid over. Some repaired splitting and old tape marks to two pages. Previous owner's name to the front fep. Condition: Good. Binding: Hardcover. Worn embossed… Read More

Sold at all Booksellers, Circa 1800. The first edition was published in 1753 by Ralph Griffiths and almost 200 years later, an examination of his records revealed that the until then anonymous author was John Cleland. Cleland was an associate of Griffith's and both men were arrested as author and publisher over the erotic content contained in Cleland's book "Fanny Hill". This little dictionary went through many different editions, with the last version being printed as late as 1825. Cleland based his work on the Worldcat returns no results for this exact title. All results point to possibly earlier editions with the title ending '…terms used in that language' rather than 'terms used in the Love Language'. A sextodecimo with 128 pages and 335 entries. From the preface: "Those who have no clear understanding of the terms in this important language will be sufficiently instructed, and taught to distinguish the Birmingham trash so often palmed upon them for the true, lawful coin of the kingdom of… Read More

Dublin: printed in the year, 1754. First Dublin edition, and second edition overall; 16mo, pp. xii, [204]; contemporary and likely original calf-backed boards, red morocco label; joints cracked, cords holding. First published in London the previous year of which ESTC locates 10 copies - 6 in the U.S.). This Dublin edition, likely a piracy, is known by two copies only: Cambridge University and University of Chicago. Translated by the author of Fanny Hill, and based on a French text by J. F. Dreux de Rodier which was first published in 1741. As such, it is the first dictionary of its kind in English. Dr. Roger Lonsdale, of Balliol College, Oxford, was able to attribute this work to Cleland from an examination of the Bodleian copy of the Monthly Review in which Griffiths (the publisher of the London edition) annotated the reviews, sometimes with the names of otherwise anonymous authors. In November, 1753 Ralph Griffiths, himself a publisher of editions of Fanny Hill, published The Dictionary of Love. He… Read More