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JOHNSON,
Samuel
Dictionary
of the English Language (2 Vols)
Abstracted
from
the folio edition
Printed for
J.Knapton; C.Hitch and L.Hawes,
A.Millar…,
London, 1760
Octavo
abridged edition, not the
second edition as stated on the
title-page,
but the first octavo edition.
A good
early edition of one of the most famous books in the English language.
First
published
in 1755, Johnson’s
monumental work is both an enormous personal achievement and an important
landmark in the history of the written word.
His definition
for excise is particularly memorable:
‘A hateful tax levied upon
commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property,
but wretches hired by those to whom excise is paid’.
The textblocks
are in very good condition and the books rebound
in full hand-dyed red morocco, with page
edges left uncut, marbled endpapers
and period style tooling to
the spine and boards. The books are housed in a matching
leather entry slipcase.
BKJOHN.005
£2,200.00 |
