AN AMERICAN DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE....
Webster, Noah:
New York: Published by S. Converse, printed by Hezekiah Howe - New Haven, 1828. Two volumes. With the "Additions and Corrections" leaf. Portrait in first volume. Large, thick quarto. Original boards, completely untrimmed. Spine labels renewed, unobtrusive old institutional blindstamp on titlepage of each volume. Lightly tanned, light scattered foxing, but a large, impressive copy. This copy contains the rare "Additions and Corrections" leaf, sometimes lacking, at the end of the second volume. The most important American dictionary, of prime importance as an early effort toward mass education, eventually placing correct spelling and usage at the fingertips of the ordinary American citizen. This two-volume quarto unabridged dictionary represents the culmination of Webster's indefatigable dedication to providing his country with its first comprehensive modern dictionary. "Webster set a new standard for etymological investigation, and for accuracy of definition ('a born definer of words' - Sir James Murray), and included 70,000 words, as against the 58,000 of any previous dictionary. There were 2,500 copies printed, in boards uncut or full calf, at $20 for the two volumes" - Grolier AMERICAN 100. "Webster was an ardent nationalist and he wanted to stress the political separation from England by the cultivation of a separate American language" - PMM. The introductory material contains Webster's thesis on the development of languages as well as his philosophical and practical grammar of the English language. A prize to be cherished by any American who cares about his/her native tongue. GROLIER AMERICAN 100, 36. PRINTING & THE MIND OF MAN 291. SKEEL 583. SABIN 102335.
(Item ID: WRCAM39837A) $27,500.00