Samuel Johnson Dictionary of the English Language Leather 10th Edition 1792
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Johnson, Samuel. Dictionary of the English Language, in Which the Words… London, 1792. Tenth Edition. Single volume, octavo, page size 5.1 x 8.1 inch. Bound size approximately 5.25 x 8.3 inches.
All pages unnumbered. My count was 980 pages including the final blank. It is possible that I am off by a leaf or two, but it will be very close.
A sound copy of this famous 18th century book. Johnson's dictionary, originally published in 1755, was the first that attempted to be a definitive dictionary of the English language as it was used at the time. Although there were previous dictionaries, they tended to be limited to what were known as "hard words". The technical and the obscure were featured, and the common use of words was not included. Johnson's scholarship of the contemporary English language, attention to detail, organization, and use of citations all had a profound effect on what we expect a dictionary to include today. Overall, an amazing book with many surprising and interesting words. A lot of fun to dip into.
Books of this era were collated and bound by hand, sometimes giving rise to errors of order, or missing pages. In this book, the pages between the words humpback and hydrostatically are not present. There is no sign of removal, and I believe they were never there. I did not find any other such gaps. Based on other editions, I'd guess the missing area would have been two or three leaves. All other pages appear in their proper order based on my review.
Condition:
All pages unnumbered. My count was 980 pages including the final blank. It is possible that I am off by a leaf or two, but it will be very close.
A sound copy of this famous 18th century book. Johnson's dictionary, originally published in 1755, was the first that attempted to be a definitive dictionary of the English language as it was used at the time. Although there were previous dictionaries, they tended to be limited to what were known as "hard words". The technical and the obscure were featured, and the common use of words was not included. Johnson's scholarship of the contemporary English language, attention to detail, organization, and use of citations all had a profound effect on what we expect a dictionary to include today. Overall, an amazing book with many surprising and interesting words. A lot of fun to dip into.
Books of this era were collated and bound by hand, sometimes giving rise to errors of order, or missing pages. In this book, the pages between the words humpback and hydrostatically are not present. There is no sign of removal, and I believe they were never there. I did not find any other such gaps. Based on other editions, I'd guess the missing area would have been two or three leaves. All other pages appear in their proper order based on my review.
Condition:
- Text block is sound.
- Front free endpaper nearly all missing.
- Title page has edge and center chips, creasing, small ink marks. Following page has similar creasing.
- Interior pages in good shape. There are miscellaneous small stains and handling marks, small chips, reference creases to corners, etc.
- Part of the H section is not present, as noted above.
- In the interior of the book, one leaf has a larger tear. See photo of page headed OPT-ORD. Other tears are minor, in margin only or barely into text.
- Small amounts of pencil writing or doodling in page margins, see example photos.
- Front and rear endpapers have various writing and doodling.
- Stain on rear endpaper shows in diminishing form on the last 22 or so pages.
- Boards have general wear and rubbing, bumps to spine and corners, leather worn away from edges.
- Spine joints still attached to the text block.
- Book is free of offensive odors, with only the slightly sweet scent that comes from old leather and paper.
- No sign of tape, glue, or other amateur repairs.
- Binding appears original. I would guess the leather to be sheepskin based on a magnified view.
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