A Dictionary of the English language

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Samuel Johnson,

A Dictionary of the English language

London: Printed for J. F. and C. Rivington, L. Davis, and 23 others. 1785

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Johnson’s Monumental work, here in the First London Quarto, re-backed to style. Combining clarity and relative compactness, compared to the massive folios that came before, this Sixth Edition was the first published after Johnson’s death, the first to feature a portrait of Johnson, and the last to receive his corrections passed down from his friend Sir Joshua Reynolds.

The volume(s) measure about 28 cm. by 23 cm. by 8 cm.

Each leaf measures about 262 mm. by 205 mm.

The Full Title Reads:

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 is prefixed, A History of the Language, and An English Grammar. By Samuel Johnson, LL.D. In Two Volumes – Vol I (Vol II). The Sixth Edition.

London: Printed for J. F. and C. Rivington, L. Davis, T. Payne and Son, T. Longman, B. Law, J. Dodsley, C. Dilley, W. Lowndes, G. G. J. and J. Robinson, T. Cadell, Jo. Johnson, J Robson, W. Richardson, J. Nichols, R. Baldwin, W. Goldsmith, J. Murray, W. Stuart, P. Elmsly, W. Fox, S. Hayes, D. Ogilvie, W. Bent, T. and J. Egerton, J. Phillips, and M. Newbery. MDCCLXXXV (1785)

Signatures: Vol I: a-b4 c-h2 i-k4 [superscript 2]g-h4 B-6X4 (-6X4, blank) (with 5X2 mis-signed 5Z2). Vol II:  pi1 B-3Y4 2Z2 [superscript 2]A-3Y4 3Z2. 4to. Half-title, engraved portrait frontispiece, contemporary ownership inscriptions (‘John Woolly’). There were no page numbers printed for this edition. The volume collates complete except for the final blank in Volume I.

Bound in contemporary tree calf, rubbed, sympathetically re-backed in calf with five raised bands, a red-letter piece in the second compartment from the top and stamped edition numbers with round decorations to style. Binding is quite supple and the books may be easily read. The corners are worn. Internally there is occasional damp-staining, including the frontispiece. The leaves are generally clean with minor foxing and browning in places. Volume 2 signature 2A1 torn affecting headline. 4to.

Please Take the Time Necessary To Review The Photographs on our website In Order To Gain The Fullest Possible Understanding Of The Content And Condition Of This Volume.

The volume measures 28 x 23 x 8 cm. Each leaf measures 262 x 205 mm.

The Sixth Edition

The two-volume folio, Fourth Edition (1773), has Johnson’s last corrections made while alive. This was followed by a reprint in 1774, the Fifth Edition. Then appeared a Dublin Edition in Quarto in 1775, beating the London Quarto, making the Dublin Quarto the First Quarto Edition.

“There was no folio sixth edition, just this quarto, which was printed from Samuel Johnson’s own corrected copy of the fourth folio edition (1773), which he bequeathed to Sir Joshua Reynolds. Though several printers were involved in the production of this sixth edition, Strahan’s account shows that both the sixth (quarto) and the seventh (folio) were printed together. Moreover, the evidence of typesetting shows that the type set for the quarto was readjusted, but not reset, to make up the folio pages.” Courtney & Smith, p. 57

“Text based on Johnson’s revised fourth edition of 1773. The [1785] quarto is set in three columns, with rather heavy column rules. The original folio design is followed, except that all the illustrative quotations are set in small type, and the differentiation of verse from prose quotations by the use of a deeper indent is not observed. the 1785 design combines clarity with relative compactness.” Paul Luna, Anniversary Essays on Johnson s Dictionary.

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