A collection of English words not generally used, with their significations and original, in two alphabetical catalogues, the one of such as are proper to the northern, the other to the southern counties. With catalogues of English birds and fishes: and an account of the preparing and refining such metals and minerals as are gotten in England.
London: H. Bruges for Tho. Burrell, 1674. First edition of the first book on English dialects, and the first English dialect dictionary; 12mo, pp. [14], [1]-178 (i.e. 148); blank leaves A1 and L4 are not preserved; title page printed in red and black; bottom margin trimmed close touching the date in the imprint; modern marbled wrappers. While on his botanical journeys throughout England, which brought Ray (1627-1705) everlasting fame, he had the opportunity to study local antiquities and customs, as well as local dialects. This work, together with his Collection of English Proverbs (1670), is an outgrowth of these travels. On one of his treks into Cornwall he made notes on the smelting industry, and recorded his observations (included in a separate section at the back of this volume) on the smelting and refining of silver, tin and iron. Also included is a brief section on husbandry. The sections on the names of British birds and fishes were largely the work of Francis Willughby. An expanded and much more common edition appeared in 1691. Keynes 23 ("one of his more important publications"); Alston IX, 1; Kennedy 10623; Wing R-388. Item #34020
Price: $1,800.00
