Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition

Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition

£60.00
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Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
  • Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition
Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition

Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language — 1890 Edition

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Warne's Bijou Dictionary of the English Language, Edited by Alex. Charles Ewald — 1890 Edition

Publication: London and New York, Frederick Warne and Co., 1890

Formatting: 48mo, pp. [iv], 640.

Condition Report: Very Good. The binding remains remarkably tight and structurally sound for a miniature volume of this era, resisting the hinge-cracking and text-block separation typical of the format. The original full red roan leather is nicely preserved, with the gilt double-fillet borders and five faux raised bands on the spine retaining their unoxidised brightness. The book displays a pronounced, irregular ink-like stain to the centre of the front board, alongside minor shelf-wear rubbing to the spine head, tail, and extreme corners. The all-edges-gilt text block is brilliant, showing only superficial, faint scratching. Internally, the pages are crisp, highly legible, and largely clean, presenting only negligible, scattered foxing that is almost entirely confined to the preliminary leaves and endpapers.

Catalogue Note: This 1890 printing of Warne's popular miniature dictionary features a finely detailed wood-engraved frontispiece portrait of the great lexicographer Samuel Johnson. Bound in a handsome, publisher's full red leather gift binding, it exemplifies the late 19th-century commercial vogue for novelty 'bijou' books.

The volume bears a neat, contemporary ownership inscription in ink to the front free endpaper: "Edward Bibby / 1892." While miniature dictionaries of this period were produced in robust numbers to satisfy Victorian middle-class demand, surviving examples that retain tight hinges, crisp pages, and complete spines are becoming increasingly uncommon on the open market, as their pocket-sized nature made them highly susceptible to loss and heavy handling.

A delightful late-Victorian miniature that distills the monumental lexicographical achievements of Samuel Johnson, Noah Webster, and their contemporaries into a volume small enough to slip neatly into a waistcoat pocket. Edited by the antiquary Alexander Charles Ewald, this dictionary was designed to offer both elegant portability and practical, everyday reference. It stands today as a charming artefact of 19th-century publishing, demonstrating the era's fascination with novelty formats without sacrificing the comprehensive utility of the English language.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: Samuel Johnson; Alex Charles Ewald

Book Publisher: Frederick Warne & Co.

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Non-Fiction

Genre: Education

Book edition:

Signed: No

Book Pages: 640

Book Publication Year: 1890

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover (Leather)

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: London, 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.

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