“ONE OF THE BEST DICTIONARIES OF ANY LANGUAGE IN EUROPE”

IHRE, Johanne. Glossarium Suigothicum, In Quo Tam Hodierno Usu Frequentata Vocabula, Quam in Legum Patriarum Tabulis Aliisque Aevi Medii Scriptis Obvia Explicantur, et ex Dialectis Cognatis, Moesogothica, Anglo-Saxonica, Alemannica, Islandica Ceterisque Goticae et Celticae Originis Illustrantur. Upsaliae: Edmannianis, 1769. Two volumes in one. Folio, full brown sheep, raised bands. $1100.

First edition of the first comprehensive etymological dictionary of Swedish, each entry illustrated with cognates from English, German, Gothic, Icelandic, and Latin (and often Greek).

Compiled by Johannes Ihre with the assistance of Sven Hof and Abraham Sahlstedt and inspired by Johann Wachter's Glossarium Germanicum, this dictionary is a breathtaking work of early philological scholarship, reflecting extensive knowledge of the Germanic and classical languages and their etymological relationships. It is the first work of its kind studying the Swedish language. "One of the best dictionaries of any language in Europe—a masterpiece of criticism and erudition" (Boucher). Woodcut head- and tail-pieces. Ebert 10467; Graesse III:410; Vancil, 117; Zaunmuller, 343.

Interior with only usual embrowning and slight foxing, expert repair to head, tail and joints. A very good, attractive copy.