"THE MOST AMBITIOUS PUBLICATION EVER UNDERTAKEN, UP TO THAT TIME, UPON AMERICAN SOIL… RICHLY DESERVING OF ITS GREAT REPUTATION AT HOME AND ABROAD": FIRST EDITION OF WEBSTER'S LANDMARK AMERICAN DICTIONARY, 1828, IN CONTEMPORARY SHEEP BINDINGS

WEBSTER, Noah. The American Dictionary of the English Language. New York: S. Converse, 1828. Two volumes. Thick quarto, contemporary full brown sheep rebacked with original spine preserved, raised bands, later brown morocco spine labels; each volume housed in custom slipcases. $22,000.

Rare first edition of Webster's monumental American Dictionary, one of only 2500 copies, with frontispiece portrait, in a handsome contemporary binding.

The fruit of nearly a quarter century of labor, Webster's American Dictionary was "probably the most ambitious publication ever undertaken, up to that time, upon American soil… Its merits at once gave it first place among English dictionaries. It marks, indeed, a definite advance in the science of lexicography. Webster established once for all the practice… of freely recording non-literary words… He justly based his definitions upon usage of American as well as British writers and speakers, and did not hesitate to record 'Americanisms' which he deemed worthy… His principles of definition were sound, and the definitions themselves in many cases cannot be bettered today, for Webster was a born definer as well as a man of encyclopedic knowledge… As a whole, Webster's American Dictionary was a scholarly achievement of the first order, richly deserving of its great reputation at home and abroad" (DAB). With definitions for "some 70,000 words—15,000 more than any previous English lexicon… Although only 2500 copies of the first edition were printed, the work established Webster as a lexicographer of international repute" (Lathem, 76 United Statesiana 9). With the rare "Additions and Corrections" leaf at end of second volume, often not present. Without the rare advertising leaf in the front of the volume. Skeel 583. Howes W9. Shaw & Shoemaker 37115. Small round bookplates to title pages.

Scattered light foxing to text with expert cleaning to first several leaves of Volume I, including frontispiece and title page; early and expert restoration to contemporary sheep. An excellent copy.