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. By Samuel Johnson. London: W. & A. Strahan, 1784.
A lovely copy in two monumental folio volumes of Samuel Johnson's magnum opus, neatly rebacked and showing very attractively on the shelf. The volumes are just under half a metre tall and so are very heavy - an impressive printing.
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Size: 272 x 443 mm (approx., each)
Condition:
[(1), t.p., 6pp. (preface), D1-K2, a1-d1, [C], B1-12Z2, (1)]; [(1), t.p., 15A1-31D3, (1)].
Rebacked full calf bindings, preserving earlier, probably original, backstrips and some original leather of the boards. The set shows very nicely on the shelf. The rear board of volume one has been fully replaced and preserves no earlier leather, all of the other boards are mostly fully preserved contemporary calf, all with some slight or greater levels of loss. All boards are securely attached, the bindings are secure. Volume one has a shelf lean but does stand independently, but due to the very large dimensions of these volumes, they are best laid flat nevertheless. Page edges very good or better. Endpapers replaced, lacking original blanks, no attached bookplates with the single ownership inscription of "J Banbury" to the title page of the second volume (only). Title page and first few leaves in volume one up to E1 ragged at edges with some minor losses in the bottom right corner and of the first two leaves, minor losses at the bottom left corner. Last four leaves in volume one torn with loss including the remnants of a crude tape repair which does obscure a small amount of text, the final few leaves are also ragged at edges. Volume one ends with the word "knot", volume starts with L, this set does lack the words after "knot" and before L, for lack of an authoritative collated copy of this edition, we do not know how many leaves are lacking here, but a best estimate is 3 or 4. Otherwise the text is mildly toned throughout but no more than as commensurate with one's expectation. If not for the few leaves at the beginning and end of the volumes, the volumes would be internally near fine to fine, but those either ragged or crudely repaired torn leaves bring it down to a VG-. Nonetheless an excellent set of what is quite a rare early edition in a huge format, mirroring the first, of Johnson's Dictionary.
[OCLC 6128164].
