Dedicated to Samuel Johnson
An archaeological dictionary; or classical antiquities of the Jews, Greeks, and Romans, alphabetically arranged: containing an account of their manners, customs, diversions, religious rites, festivals, oracles, laws, arts, engines of war, weights, measures, money, medals, computation and division of time, &c
London: printed for T. Cadell, in the Strand; J. Wallis, Ludgate-Street; and John Binns, at Leeds, 1783. First edition, 8vo, pp. [444]; [pi]¹ a³ B-P⁸ Q⁴ R² *A-*M⁸ *N⁴; lexicon in double column; contemporary full calf, red morocco label on spine; joints cracked, cords holding; otherwise, good and sound. Dedicated to Samuel Johnson who in fact presented a copy of his Lives of the Poets to Wilson, probably in 1783. The second edition of 1793 printed Johnson's 2-page reply written two years before his death, and also reprinted in Boswell's Life: "The esteem and wiseness of kind and good men is one of the last pleasures which I can be content to lose; and gratitude to those from whom this pleasure is received, is a duty of which I hope never to be reproached with the final neglect." Not in Chapman & Hazen nor Courtney & Smith; see Fleeman 88.3L/4. Item #64536
Price: $625.00
