1696 The New World of Words: or, A Universal English Dictionary, Edward Phillips

A revised and enlarged 1696 5th edition of what is considered one of the first commercially successful English dictionaries (if somewhat controversial); this copy freshly rebound and ready for further centuries of use.

The University of British Columbia has a wonderful lexicon blog series that chronicles the production and controversy of this work, but I will try to summarize (with much loss of context and interest; see the blogs for a better understanding):

There'd been four solely English dictionaries culminating in 1623, and then a dearth. In the 1630s, Thomas Blount recognized many new words were being used (per the preface in his work) and for 20 years he built on the previous works and released a dictionary, Glossographia, in 1656.

In 1658 Edward Phillips then released this work, A New World of English Words..., that blatantly plagiarized Blount, but was in a better format (both in typology and size; it's the first folio English dictionary) and included more words. In addition, Phillips was related to the venerable Milton, so he had "pull" in the literary world. Phillip's work met with great commercial success, as this 5th expanded edition testifies. It also erupted a "Lexicographer brawl" (University of British Columba) between the two authors which led to discussions in the literary world about plagiarism and how it should be addressed, even in works such as dictionaries.

Bibliographic Details -

This addition not found in the English Short Title Catalogue/USTC (rare?) but the pagination matches the 1700 edition (USTC 3136961) where the publisher was reduced to "for Joshua Phillips".

Worldcat records this edition as OCLC 6684040. The pagination matches, this copy is complete.

Physical Attributes -

Measures approx. 33 x 22 x 3 cm. Folio, signed in four. Modern calf binding; boards with double blind fillet outer frame. Eight raised bands to spine. Rudimentary title in gilt and date on black leather (in one compartment and at base of spine). Illustrated frontis.

Pages - Not paginated, only gatherings signed, but Worldcat claims 407. Just for giggles I asked AI to count the pagination based on the gatherings and it concluded 208 leaves, which does coincide if you consider the first 8 pages introductory (wouldn't have been paginated) and the last page of advertising as outside the counting, hence leaving the dictionary at 407 pages.

Collation - Unsigned4, A-I4, K6, Aa-Ll4, Aaa-Iii4, Kkk2, Aaaa-Iiii4, Kkkk6, Aaaaa-Hhhhh4, Iiiii2. Collates complete.

Condition -

See pictures. Fresh simple binding with very little wear (almost none). Replaced endpapers. Text block toned throughout, with fox spots, thumbing, page edge chips/tears, ember marks, dog-eared pages, etc. Period blank unpaginated binder's front endpaper with a number and name on it and some ink spots. Frontis with several 1" edge tears. Title page with some edge tears and some creasing and a 2" moisture mark right in the middle of the page (like a drop of tea fell on it). Dictionary pages (starting at gathering A) brighter than prefatory iv leaves (frontis, title etc). 2" Moisture mark at top edge of Bbb1-Ccc2. 1" tear in fore-edge of Gggg4. Pencil note, "16 dictionary" on rear blank endpaper.