An American Dictionary of the English Language;

publisher's presentation binding

The first Merriam-Webster edition of the American Dictionary. A fine example in the publisher's presentation binding of gilt-panelled black morocco addressed to the English radical politician 'Richard Cobden from G. & C. Merriam'.

First published in 1828, Webster's (1758-1843) dictionary met with immediate acceptance in his own day, and has since remained the standard dictionary in America. An ardent nationalist, in an effort to further distinguish America's separation from Britain, new spellings were adopted (although not nearly as drastic as those proposed by Benjamin Franklin), as well as defining the unique American usage of words. This first edition contained 70,000 entries, all written by Webster himself.

After his death in 1843, the Merriam brothers of Massachusetts continued to issue revised editions (hence today's Merriam-Webster dictionaries), beginning with this edition of 1848.

Cobden (1804-1865) was a founding member of the Anti-Corn Law League, and served as Member of the Parliament variously for Stockport, the West Rising of Yorkshire, and Rochdale from 1841 until his death. Cobden had first visited the United States in the summer of 1835,spending three months touring the Eastern Seaboard through Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and Massachusetts. 'The visit confirmed his earlier impressions of America's infinite capacity for the development of wealth and commerce, and made him realize that unless Britain changed its commercial policy America would soon outstrip all the old economies' (ODNB).

First Merriam-Webster edition, publisher's presentation copy; large 4to (28 x 22 cm); bookplate to front pastedown, related ownership inscription to front free endpaper verso, engraved portrait frontispiece, hinges reinforced at endpapers, slightly soiled, light offsetting to title-page and small stain to verso otherwise internally clean; publisher's gilt-panelled black morocco, fielded design in relief to both covers with inscription lettered in gilt to central panel of upper cover, gilt spine in 6 compartments, gauffered edges with elaborate scrollwork design, extremities a little rubbed, but overall a fine example.

cf.PMM 291.