Alphabe Thursday … D is for Dictionary

In particular the Dictionary of the English Language written by Samuel Johnson and published on the 15th April 1755. It is considered among the most influential dictionaries in the history of the English language.  

Johnson began this mammoth task in 1746, at at the request of a group of London Booksellers, who were unhappy with dictionaries of the period. He was paid 1,500 guineas (£230,000 in today’s money) and planned to take 3 years.  However with only clerical assistance to help with small tasks it took him 9 years to complete.  He did go on to publish several revised editions in his lifetime. The copy in our collection would have been among those! Although not its original binding; because dictionaries are so well used they do not always stand the test of time.  However, almost 300 years is good enough for me. 

Not only was the finished item, printed on the finest paper and very large it was also very expensive at £1600.00 it was more than the author was paid.