Baedeker's Conversation Dictionary in Four Languages, Karl Baedeker — 1st Ed

£140.00

Baedeker's Conversation Dictionary in Four Languages, Karl Baedeker — 1st Ed

Name: Baedeker's Conversation Dictionary in Four Languages, Karl Baedeker — 1st Ed
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4477
Price: 140.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

Write Review

In stock

£140.00

Shipping is calculated at checkout.

Baedeker's Conversation Dictionary in Four Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Karl Baedeker — First Edition

Publication: Leipsic & London, Karl Baedeker & Dulau & Co., 1889

Formatting: Small 8vo, pp. [vi], 230.

Condition Report: Very Good. The volume remains tightly bound and structurally sound, an uncommon feat for late-nineteenth-century pocket dictionaries intended for heavy travel use. The original publisher’s cloth shows some general soiling, minor staining to the front board, and slight rubbing and sun-fading to the extremities of the spine. Despite this light shelf wear, the gilt titling remains strikingly bright and unoxidised. Internally, the text block is remarkably clean, devoid of the heavy spotting or foxing often found in similar travel companions, and the text pages remain crisp. A notable highlight is the exceptional preservation of the text block’s marbled edges, which retain their vibrant, unfaded swirling patterns.

Catalogue Note: This is the scarce first, and only, edition of Baedeker’s multi-language conversation dictionary, a deliberate and highly useful departure from the publisher's standard regional topography handbooks.

The volume is bound in a publisher's variant light orange/salmon-pink cloth, distinguishing it from the iconic, standard 'Baedeker red' usually employed for their guides, and features elegant blind-stamped borders alongside beautifully executed marbled page edges.

It features a contemporary ink ownership signature to the upper corner of the front free endpaper. Solid, unsplit copies of this dictionary are increasingly difficult to source on the open market, as its pocket-sized nature and practical utility meant most copies suffered heavy wear, tearing, and deterioration during cross-continental travel.

First published in 1889, Baedeker's Conversation Dictionary served as an indispensable pocket companion for the ambitious Victorian tourist navigating the borders of Europe. Moving away from his famous topographical guidebooks, Karl Baedeker compiled this robust linguistic tool, offering side-by-side translations and essential phrases in English, French, German, and Italian. Arranged practically for the varied daily needs of a traveller—from securing lodgings and navigating railways to dining and polite conversation—this dictionary captures a fascinating linguistic snapshot of nineteenth-century European travel. It offers modern readers and collectors a uniquely practical glimpse into the realities of historical tourism.

Book Condition: Very Good

Book Authors: Karl Baedeker

Book Publisher: Karl Baedeker; Dulau & Co.

Book Language: English, French, German, Italian

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Travel, Exploration & Adventure

Book edition: First Edition

Signed: No

Book Pages: 236

Book Publication Year: 1889

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: Leipzig, Germany

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.