“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,EXCEPTIONAL IN CONTEMPORARY CALF

WEBSTER, Noah. The American Dictionary of the English Language. New York: S. Converse, 1828. Two volumes. Thick quarto, contemporary full brown calf rebacked with original spines laid down, raised bands, original red and black morocco gilt spine labels. Housed together in a custom chemise and clamshell box.

Rare first edition of Webster’s monumental American Dictionary, one of only 2500 copies, with frontispiece portrait of the pioneering lexicographer, most elusive in contemporary calf.

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). Skeel 583. Howes W9. Shaw & Shoemaker 37115. PMM 291. Grolier 100 American 36. Contemporary owner signatures, including those of Benedict Brooks, possibly the pioneer settler who served as a judge and state legislator in Wyoming.

Text with occasional light foxing and offsetting (less than often). Marginal closed tear to leaf 40(4)in Volume II, touching text. Expertly repaired closed tear to frontispiece. Only light age-wear to handsome bindings. An excellent copy of an American literary landmark, in very nearly fine condition, rarely found in contemporary calf.