11 10JOHNSON, Samuel. 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. London, 1755. Two volumes. Tall thick folio, expertly recased using 18th-century paneled calf sides, rebacked to style. $32,000 “The Most Amazing, Enduring And Endearing One-Man Feat”: 1755 First Edition Of Johnson’s Landmark Dictionary First edition of the first great dictionary of the English language, Johnson’s “audacious attempt to tame his unruly native tongue… combining huge erudition with a steely wit and remarkable clarity of thought” (Hitchings, 3)—”Johnson’s writings had, in philology, the effect which Newton’s discoveries had in mathematics.” “Johnson’s Dictionary made him a superstar. To be sure, there had been dictionaries before his. The difference is that, while these were compiled, Johnson’s was written… The glory of the book is that it is also a compendium of English literature, reprinting fine examples of words from the masters ... Johnson sought to ‘intersperse with verdure and flowers the dusty desarts of barren philology” (Smithsonian Book of Books). “Dr. Johnson performed with his Dictionary the most amazing, enduring and endearing one-man feat in the field of lexicography… It is the dictionary itself which justifies Noah Webster’s statement that Johnson’s writings had, in philology, the effect which Newton’s discoveries had in mathematics” (PMM 201). Carlyle paid this tribute: “Had Johnson left nothing but his Dictionary, one might have traced there a great intellect, a genuine man” (Baugh, et al., 992). Early institutional stamp to title pages. Occasional marginal repairs. Title page of second volume strengthened at gutter, early paper reinforcement to bottom of first title page. Light wear to calf. A handsome copy of this rare and important landmark.
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