A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from the originals...
London: W. & A. Strahan [et al.], 1784. Fifth edition, the last to be issued in Johnson's lifetime; 2 volumes, folio, titles printed in red and black, lexicon in double column; full slightly later calf, rebacked, gilt decorated spine in 7 compartments with gilt labels in 2; boards rubbed and bumped, headband of vol. 1 worn, heraldic bookplate of William Hutcheson Poë and water color landscape on pastedowns, abrasion on title page of vol. 1 resulting in closed tears, foxed, 20O1-20P1 of vol.2 with neat repairs to a closed tear in gutter, gutters split with a crease on both spines, gatherings 10T & *10T swapped, good and sound. This is the only reprinting of the corrected fourth edition issued in Johnson's lifetime, and it is the last of the two-volume folio editions. One thousand copies were printed. The sixth edition (issued in weekly numbers and in 2 vols. quarto) and the seventh edition (issued in 1 volume folio) were issued in 1785 immediately following Johnson's death to compete with rival editions from James Harrison and James Fielding (see Reddick, The Making of Johnson's Dictionary, pp. 173-176). Alston V, 181; Courtney & Smith, p. 57; Fleeman 55.4D/6; Sledd & Kolb, p. 127. Item #59906
Price: $3,500.00
