A New Dictionary of the English Language (in 2 Vols.)

Philadelphia: E.H. Butler & Co., 1848 Third American Edition. [First appearing in London in installments within the Encyclopaedia Metropolitana, beginning 1818, then in book form 1836-37.] Hard cover, 4to, in a very nice modern fine binding of full calf, rolled in blind with intersecting bands of floral heat-tooled decoration, the spine with five raised bands similarly stamped, with titles, volume contents and date of publication tooled in gilt. Remnants of marbling to text block edges. Renewed, bright marbled endpapers have a small, diamond-shaped printed owners label to the front pastedown. Light ex -library pencil notations and withdrawal stamp to verso of title pages. The text, printed in three columns, may require the "good" glasses. COLLATION: Vol. 1 (A-K): [8pp.], Title,[1] Advertisement [1] Preliminary Essay [1] 2-71pp. Main text [1]-1183 [2]. Vol. II (L-Z): paged continuously, [1184] 1185-2222pp. [6]. **CONDITION: Overall, Near Fine. Exterior is Fine. Rebinding (dated 2007) shows practically no wear other than some light rubbing to spine titles and perhaps very very minutely at tips. There is no apparent wear to joints or hinges, and binding remains firm and square. Inside, the renewed endpapers are pleasing and bright. Moderate foxing is noted only to original endpapers. Two small repaired closed tears noted Vol.1 endpapers, one older than the other. American bookbinder's pencil signature and notation to verso of final endpaper.**London-born lexicographer Charles Richardson (1775-1865) argues in the Preliminary Essay to his 1836 New Dictionary [included here,] for the need of a new English Dictionary for the use of advanced students in British schools, public or private. He roundly critiques the previous lexicographical efforts of Dr. Samuel Johnson's Abridged Dictionary, summarizing what he sees as its many faults in the preface to this work. This dictionary, with literary quotations illustrating the words, has been called the most significant link in the development of dictionaries between the work of Johnson, and later works such as the Oxford English Dictionary. For bibliographic info. and contemporary reviews, see J. Considine, "Periodical Evidence for the Original Publication of Richardson's New Dictionary of the English Language," International Journal of Lexicography, Volume 36, Issue 1, March 2023, Pages 1-13. OCLC 10442737. Heavy set: may require extra in cost for Priority, or International shipping. A very nice, browsable resource for those interested in the origins of words with examples from literature and history. . Third American Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine.