Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language. Addressed to the Right and Honourable Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield; One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.
London: Printed for J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman and T. Shewell, C. Hitch... 1747.
Second Edition of Johnson's 'Plan' for the Dictionary and Printed to Coincide with the Publication of the Dictionary's First Edition
[JOHNSON, Samuel]. The Plan of a Dictionary of the English Language. Addressed to the Right and Honourable Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield; One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State. London: Printed for J. and P. Knapton, T. Longman and T. Shewell, C. Hitch..., 1747 [i.e. 1755].
Second edition, one of 1500 copies printed to coincide with the publication of the Dictionary in 1755. Although the date on the title-page is 1747, it was actually published in 1755. There are two states of unknown priority, one as present copy with figure "4" on page 4, the other with figure "8" on page 4. Octavo in fours (7 5/8 x 4 1/2 inches; 194 x 115 mm). [2], 37, 1, blank] pp. Bound in a "Miscellany" together with other pamphlets. The only copy we could find at auction came up at Sotheby's in 1989.
Eighteenth-century quarter calf over marbled boards. Spine stamped in gilt with letter "J", and with morocco label, and lettered in gilt All edges speckled red. Overall a very good copy, and specifically the Plan pamphlet is fine.
"The description that Johnson wrote for the booksellers and labelled 'A Short Scheme for compiling a new Dictionary of the English Language' became the first draft of The Plan of A Dictionary of the English Language, published in August 1747...The principal changes Johnson made in transforming the 'Scheme' into a published Plan appear to be intended to address aspects of a larger concern:the nature and imposition of the lexicographer's authority for linguistic decisions. The most obvious example of this preoccupation is the insertion of several direct differential references to Lord Chesterfield, to whom the Plan, unlike the 'Scheme,' is addressed...The Plan published in early August 1747, reveals several alterations and insertions made by Johnson which relate explicitly to Chesterfield and his apparent belief of desires for the language and an English dictionary..." (The Making of Johnson's Dictionary 1746-1773, Allen Reddick, pg 17-19)
This Plan was part of an strong marketing plan to entice buyers to the Dictionary. It was reprinted in Scots Magazine as well as advertised for in newspapers. The reprinted separate pamphlet version (present work) was to be distributed for free. However printing this was far more expensive than simply advertising and there were fewer copies printed that the Dictionary itself.
Bound together in the Miscellany are the following contemporary pamphlets:
1. The Devil upon Crutches in England, or Night Scenes in London. A satirical work . Part I. By a gentleman of Oxford . The second edition. London: printed for Philip Hodges . 1756. 2. The Devil upon Crutches in England . Part II . London: printed for Philip Hodges . 1756. Two parts, without the general title page but else complete. 3. Informations and other papers relating to the treasonable verses found at Oxford, July 17. 1754. The second edition. Oxford printed; and sold by Daniel Prince . 1755. 4. [Armstrong, John.] The Oeconomy of Love. A poetical essay . A new edition. London: printed for M. Cooper . 1753. 5. [Gally, Henry.] A dissertatation pronouncing the Greek language according to the ancients . London, printed for A. Millar . 1754. 6. Frey, Andreas. A true and authentic account of Andrew Frey. Containing the occasion of his coming among the Herrnhuters or Moravians . faithfully translated from the German . London printed: and sold by J. Robinson . 1753. 7. Trenck, Franz, Freiherr von der. Memoirs of the life of the illustrious Francis Baron Trenck . London: printed for W. Owen. 1747. 8. [Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de.] La défense de mon oncle. [Netherlands?, 1767] A scarce early edition, almost certainly printed in Holland, with no proper title page and ending on p. 136. See Voltaire, Oxford edition, vol. 64 p. 168, edition C. 9. [Voltaire, François Marie Arouet de.] L'homme aux quarante écus. A Geneve, 1768. Also printed in Holland: this edition ends on p. 67. See Voltaire, Oxford edition, vol. 66, p. 270, edition 68A2. 10. [Coyer, Gabriel-François.] Mil sept cent quarante huit, où l'année merveilleuse. Seconde edition. A Paris [but actually London] imprimée l'année 1748. Clearly printed in Britain, and probably London, as this edition has press figures (see Oxford Solo online catalogue).
Courtney & Nichol Smith, p 20. Rothschild 1229.
HBS 67871.
$6,000.
Price: $6,000.00
Item #67871