Sheridan, Thomas / [Benjamin Franklin (mentioned as Subscriber with his address as Ambassador in Paris) / George Washington (mentioned as Subscriber)].

A General Dictionary of the English Language – One main Object of which, is, to establish a plain and permanent Standard of Pronunciation. To which is Prefixed A Rhetorical Grammar. Dedicated to the Volunteers of Ireland. [Including a List of Subscribers mentioning among others also: “Benjamin Franklin (Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of North America, at Paris, who ordered 20 copies)” / Mentioning also as Subscriber: “His Excellency General George Washington, Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the United States of North America”)].

First Dublin Edition. Dublin, Printed by P.Wogan at The Old Bridge and P.Byrne, College-Green, 1784. Octavo (14 cmx 21 cm). [10], LXIX, 825 [unnumbered] pages. Including a lenghty section mentioning the Irish Subscribers to this Dictionary with name and town. Hardcover / Original 18th century full leather with original, red spine-label with gilt lettering. In protective Mylar. Binding rubbed and with some minor loss to leather. The binding firm and strong and endpapers and pastdeowns intact and NOT cracked ! Small signs of a faded dampstain without any consequence to the very good condition throughout. One page with a tear (Letter G). The unpaginated section was collated as complete.

This version of the publication of Sheridan’s Dictionary includes the rare Dedication to the Volunteers of Ireland in the year 1778 (2 pages, following the titlepage):

″To the Lords and Gentlemen of the Volunteer Association of Ireland. With Great Respect, we offer to your Patronage the following Work of a learned Gentleman of our own Country. In doing so we recognize the Right you have to every Tribute, that Literature can pay to patriotic Virtue. You took up Arms at a very critical Period and while your Exertions had baffled the Hopes of all foreign Invaders, you were not in attentive to the domesic Rights of your Country….″

Mentions subscribers from all areas of Ireland and USA, for example: Benjamin Franklin (Esq. Minister Plenipotentiary from the United States of North America, at Paris, who ordered 20 copies) / Michael Atkins (Comedian) / Doctor Budd (Waterford) / Mrs. Christian Bolger (Kilkenny) / Martin Burke (Bookseller who ordered 14 Books) / Henry Borrowes (Bookseller who ordered 7 Books) / John Clarke (Bantry), John Connor (Skibbereen), John Fulton (Bookseller who ordered 100 copies), etc.

• Keywords: Catalogue Irish History Seven – Irish Literature – Poetry – Music – Theatre · Catalogue Irish History Two – Origins of Irish Identity · Catalogue No.10 – International Literature · Catalogue Ten – International Literature · Dictionaries · Dictionary · English History of Language · Irish History – Rare · Irish History in the 18th century · Irish Literature – 18th Century · Irish Literature – Rare · Irish Volunteers · Language and Culture · New Arrivals
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 31205AB

EUR 950,-- 

We ship per DHL Express