An English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary, William Spurrell — 1st Edition

£48.50

An English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary, William Spurrell — 1st Edition

Name: An English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary, William Spurrell — 1st Edition
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4433
Price: 48.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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Publication: Carmarthen, W. Spurrell / London, H. Hughes, 1850

Formatting: 8vo, pp. 436.

Condition Report: Very Good. The book is tightly bound in early green straight-grain cloth or roan leather, exhibiting a pleasing structural integrity without any significant starting to the hinges. The boards display handsome blind-tooled borders, while the spine features unoxidised, bright gilt fillets alongside a crisp, black morocco title label. Externally, there is only mild rubbing to the extremities, primarily the corners and the head and tail of the spine, typical with its 1850 publication. Internally, the text block remains remarkably square and firm, though the endpapers and preliminary pages show moderate, characteristic foxing and age-toning. The leaves themselves are largely clean, with only occasional mild spotting, ensuring the text remains bright and highly legible. An archaic ink shelfmark on the front pastedown adds a touch of institutional or private library history without detracting from the overall well-preserved nature of this robust survivor.

Catalogue Note: First edition of William Spurrell’s highly regarded English-Welsh dictionary, a monumental work of 19th-century philology. The dictionary stands as a testament to the author's lifelong devotion to the Welsh language and its literature during a period when the vernacular was increasingly unfashionable to use in formal circles. The text is entirely unillustrated, prioritising instead its comprehensive etymological and pronouncing guidelines, alongside its substantial vocabulary of English roots.

The volume is noted for its charming provenance, bearing a historic ink shelfmark (XXXII . i . 8) upon the front pastedown, suggesting it once formed part of a substantial private or institutional library. While early editions of Spurrell's later and more expansive dictionaries frequently surface on the market, surviving examples of this original 1850 standalone English-Welsh dictionary in their original contemporary bindings are distinctly uncommon, particularly in such robust and unsophisticated condition.

Dive into the rich linguistic heritage of Wales with William Spurrell's pioneering 1850 English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary. Created to capture a living language in transition, this ambitious work sought to meticulously map the elementary sounds and roots of English into Welsh, offering an invaluable tool for Victorian-era scholars and locals alike. More than just a reference book, it is a cultural artifact that helped preserve and elevate the Welsh vernacular against the linguistic pressures of the 19th century, making it an essential acquisition for historians, philologists, and Celtophiles.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: William Spurrell

Book Publisher: W. Spurrell / H. Hughes

Book Language: English, Welsh

Narrative Type: Antiquarian

Genre: Education

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 436

Book Publication Year: 1850

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Carmarthen, Wales, United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.