1760 – Samuel Johnson English Dictionary | Early 2nd Edition, Knapton

A rare 18th-century printing of Samuel Johnson’s famous English Dictionary. This edition is unpaginated and features a section on grammar unique to the English language. This edition is also considered a highly collectable edition. It includes over 4,000 entries on various subjects such as fashion, food, science, and even sex! Specific spelling examples from Shakespeare are also included in addition to the original and accepted spellings.

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Dictionary of the English Language in Which the Words are Deduced from Their Originals, Explained in the Different Meanings
• Author(s): Samuel Johnson
• Publisher: London, Printed for J. Knapton
• Edition: 1760. Second edition.
• Binding: Full leather
• Format: (4to), two volumes in one tome
• Size:  8.25 in x 5.25 in (21 cm x 14 cm)
• Collation: two parts, unpaginated
• Contents Include:
  • Extensive alphabetical dictionary entries with literary citations
  • Section on English grammar and usage
  • Variant spellings with Shakespearean examples

Condition:

Good. Full leather binding remains tight and secure with professionally restored hinges. Corners show minor wear. Pages remain clean and complete.

Why Collect This?

• Early printing of Johnson’s landmark dictionary
• Foundational work in English lexicography

Item Number: # 50464