A dictionary of the English language: in which the words are deduced from their originals … to which are prefixed a history of the language, and an English grammar … First American, from the eleventh London edition

Philadelphia: published by Moses Thomas ... J. Maxwell, printer, 1818. 4 volumes, 8vo, complete with the half-titles and the engraved frontis portrait of Johnson after Reynolds; contemporary full calf neatly but rather artlessly rebacked in black morocco-grain cloth, gilt lettering direct on spine; the rebacking aside, a very good, sound set. The quarto edition of 1818 takes precedence, and of the octavos published by Thomas, this presumably follows that with all volumes dated 1818. In this set the last 2 volumes are dated 1819. Heavily abridged versions in miniature format and bearing no resemblance to Johnson's original had appeared in America as early (truncated) as 1804, but the full text did not appear until it was undertaken by Thomas in Philadelphia in 1818. This event "was the last straw in [his] financial downfall. His Catalogue of English Books, Philadelphia 1817, enlarges over the problems on the sale of this work" (Fleeman). Alston V, p. 40; American Imprints, 44473; Courtney & Smith, p. 58; this particular issue not in Fleeman, but see Fleeman 55.4D/22, note. (Inventory #: 30888)