Collecting Dictionaries

I recently posted messages to alt.usage.english on the subject of
dictionary interest and collecting. I posted there because my interest
is more in language than in collecting for colecting's sake. So far
there has been no meaningful followup. Perhaps this is a better place
for that. Below is quote from one of my messages:


I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.

So, dispairing of ever finding certain items, i have spent far too much

this year ordering from online sellers. In some cases, buying
sight-unseen has proven unwise investment. For example, had i known
that Thomas Wright's 1857 "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial
English" was a slightly revised and largely stripped-down version of
James Halliwell's 1850 "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words,"
which i already had, i might have held onto the preposterous $75.00 i
paid for a used facsimile.

Subtitle information led me to believe that Wright covered a later
period than Halliwell. I have found it difficult to impossible to find

certain information on relatively obscure dictionaries which could have

spared me such costly discovery. $75.00 (for 2 volumes) pushes my
limits (with the exception of the $150.00 i paid for a beautiful copy
of the 12 volume 1911 edition of the "Century," which is really only
$12.50 per large volume).

I suspect there are numerous collectors who post here with whom i could

exchange arcane knowledge. I have quite an extensive collection
(primarily English), yet i have a long way to go for what i want to
have at hand. Presently, my acquisition targets include a facsimile of

the complete Johnson dictionary, Joseph Wright's "English Dialect
Dictionary, the Mayhew/Skeat "Concise Dictionary of Middle English",
volumes of the D.A.R.E, Barnhart's Dictionary Companion, etc.

I will reply to interest as time allows.

ER Lyon

"xerlome" wrote in message
oups.com...

I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.



Welcome to rec.collecting.books. I don't collect dictionaries myself, but
judging by the rest of your post, I think you've found a home!

Alice
bookdealing...hopefully not a racketeer!

--
Book collecting terms illustrated. Occasional books for sale.
http://www.mywingsbooks.com/

on Tue, 27 Dec 2005 12:45:31 GMT, my-wings stated:


"xerlome" wrote in message
roups.com...

I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.



Welcome to rec.collecting.books. I don't collect dictionaries myself, but
judging by the rest of your post, I think you've found a home!

Yes, welcome to rec.collecting.books.

I don't collect dictionaries per se, but I do have a few
medical dictionaries. Dunglison's, from the mid 1800s,
comes in several editions with beautiful leather bindings.
I haven't gotten to the point of deciding which edition is
preferable; I think I have two, now. Mostly I collect
other old medical texts if they have botanical content,
and a few other obscure things such as books from the first
publisher (1803-1835) in the next town East of me (my actual
town being too small for that sort of thing).

Language, though, that's a fascinating topic. Early
dictionaries could be really intriguing. For a more
modern resource, try onelook.com.


-Allison

"xerlome" wrote in message
oups.com...
I recently posted messages to alt.usage.english on the subject of
dictionary interest and collecting. I posted there because my interest
is more in language than in collecting for colecting's sake. So far
there has been no meaningful followup. Perhaps this is a better place
for that. Below is quote from one of my messages:


I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.

So, dispairing of ever finding certain items, i have spent far too much

this year ordering from online sellers. In some cases, buying
sight-unseen has proven unwise investment. For example, had i known
that Thomas Wright's 1857 "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial
English" was a slightly revised and largely stripped-down version of
James Halliwell's 1850 "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words,"
which i already had, i might have held onto the preposterous $75.00 i
paid for a used facsimile.

Subtitle information led me to believe that Wright covered a later
period than Halliwell. I have found it difficult to impossible to find

certain information on relatively obscure dictionaries which could have

spared me such costly discovery. $75.00 (for 2 volumes) pushes my
limits (with the exception of the $150.00 i paid for a beautiful copy
of the 12 volume 1911 edition of the "Century," which is really only
$12.50 per large volume).

I suspect there are numerous collectors who post here with whom i could

exchange arcane knowledge. I have quite an extensive collection
(primarily English), yet i have a long way to go for what i want to
have at hand. Presently, my acquisition targets include a facsimile of

the complete Johnson dictionary, Joseph Wright's "English Dialect
Dictionary, the Mayhew/Skeat "Concise Dictionary of Middle English",
volumes of the D.A.R.E, Barnhart's Dictionary Companion, etc.

I will reply to interest as time allows.

ER Lyon


Where do you find room for all these wonderful dictionaries?

"bookbindersrus" wrote in message
...
"xerlome" wrote in message
oups.com...
I recently posted messages to alt.usage.english on the subject of
dictionary interest and collecting. I posted there because my interest
is more in language than in collecting for colecting's sake. So far
there has been no meaningful followup. Perhaps this is a better place
for that. Below is quote from one of my messages:


I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.

So, dispairing of ever finding certain items, i have spent far too much

this year ordering from online sellers. In some cases, buying
sight-unseen has proven unwise investment. For example, had i known
that Thomas Wright's 1857 "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial
English" was a slightly revised and largely stripped-down version of
James Halliwell's 1850 "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words,"
which i already had, i might have held onto the preposterous $75.00 i
paid for a used facsimile.

Subtitle information led me to believe that Wright covered a later
period than Halliwell. I have found it difficult to impossible to find

certain information on relatively obscure dictionaries which could have

spared me such costly discovery. $75.00 (for 2 volumes) pushes my
limits (with the exception of the $150.00 i paid for a beautiful copy
of the 12 volume 1911 edition of the "Century," which is really only
$12.50 per large volume).

I suspect there are numerous collectors who post here with whom i could

exchange arcane knowledge. I have quite an extensive collection
(primarily English), yet i have a long way to go for what i want to
have at hand. Presently, my acquisition targets include a facsimile of

the complete Johnson dictionary, Joseph Wright's "English Dialect
Dictionary, the Mayhew/Skeat "Concise Dictionary of Middle English",
volumes of the D.A.R.E, Barnhart's Dictionary Companion, etc.

I will reply to interest as time allows.

ER Lyon


Where do you find room for all these wonderful dictionaries?

Er Lyon,

Welcome to RCB!

Philology is one of the areas that I'm interested in. I have a few
dictionaries in my collection (Johnson, Bailey, OED, Oglivie, Webster);
but, I'm more interested in books about grammar and the history of the
English Language.

You've done rather well in finding your dictionaries at thrift stores,
garage sales and library sales; however, you can do better on the web,
either on ebay, or with respectable booksellers who specialize in
Dictionaries and the Philological Sciences.

Which reference books do you have that pertain to dictionaries? If you
don't have it, I would recommend the following book published by Indiana
State University: A Short-Title Catalogue of the Warren N. and Suzanne
B. Cordell Collection of Dictionaries 1475-1900. This catalogue will
cost you at least forty bucks but it is worth every penny in order to
know what dictionaries to look for. I should mention that the listings
are concise and brief:

Mayhew, Anthony Lawson 1842-?

1888 A Concise Dictionary of Middle /english. Oxford: At the
Clarendon Press. [8vo] 195x127 M 371:679

..more to follow later on this week.

Cheers,
Jerry Morris


(xerlome) wrote:
I recently posted messages to alt.usage.english on the subject of
dictionary interest and collecting. I posted there because my interest
is more in language than in collecting for colecting's sake. So far
there has been no meaningful followup. Perhaps this is a better place
for that. Below is quote from one of my messages:
I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. * I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially
inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.
So, dispairing of ever finding certain items, i have spent far too much
this year ordering from online sellers. In some cases, buying
sight-unseen has proven unwise investment. For example, had i known that
Thomas Wright's 1857 "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English" was
a slightly revised and largely stripped-down version of James
Halliwell's 1850 "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words," which i
already had, i might have held onto the preposterous $75.00 i paid for a
used facsimile.
Subtitle information led me to believe that Wright covered a later
period than Halliwell. I have found it difficult to impossible to find
certain information on relatively obscure dictionaries which could have
spared me such costly discovery. $75.00 (for 2 volumes) pushes my limits
(with the exception of the $150.00 i paid for a beautiful copy of the 12
volume 1911 edition of the "Century," which is really only $12.50 per
large volume).
I suspect there are numerous collectors who post here with whom i could
exchange arcane knowledge. I have quite an extensive collection
(primarily English), yet i have a long way to go for what i want to have
at hand. Presently, my acquisition targets include a facsimile of
the complete Johnson dictionary, Joseph Wright's "English Dialect
Dictionary, * the Mayhew/Skeat "Concise Dictionary of Middle English",
volumes of the D.A.R.E, Barnhart's Dictionary Companion, etc.
I will reply to interest as time allows.
ER Lyon

Moi's Books About Books: http://www.tinyurl.com/hib7
Moi's LIbrary http://www.moislibrary.com My Sentimental Library
http://www.picturetrail.com/mylibrary Florida Bibliophile Society
http://www.floridabibliophilesociety.org

Allison wrote:

I do have a few medical dictionaries. Dunglison's, from the mid 1800s, comes in several editions with beautiful leather bindings.

Thanks for this suggestion. I was just surprised to find that
Dunglison's is available for not such a horrifying price.

Language, though, that's a fascinating topic. Early dictionaries could be really intriguing.

Yes. The ones i mentioned, by Halliwell and Wright, are especially
fascinating. Old words that are very English, many which deserve to be
revived.

ER Lyon

bookbindersrus wrote:

Where do you find room for all these wonderful dictionaries?

Yeah, this is getting to be a problem, but it takes organization. I
built a set of shelves into a wall last summer to accomodate many. And
many are in boxes for now.

I am at present, for reasons too complicated to explain right now,
dividing my time between two houses thousands of miles apart. I have
parts of my collection in each place. I miss the ones i don't have
with me. However, i have resorted to acquiring extra copies of some i
especially want around all the time, too many to transport easily.

ER Lyon

Jerry Morris wrote:

I have a few dictionaries in my collection (Johnson, Bailey, OED, Oglivie, Webster

Johnson and Bailey i am anxious to find. Do you have originals or
facsimiles ? I would take either, as my interest is in their content.
And which Bailey title do you have ?

OED i have in the three volume microprint. I have all the major
Webster editions issued by Merriam, from an 1854 edition of the 1847
revision, to the Third New International.

I just recently bought an 1854 copy of Ogilvie's "Imperial Dictionary"
in two volumes, plus the 1855 "Supplement". $59.25 for the three
volumes. Plus shipping, however. I am interested to compare the later
edition revised by Annandale, which is at my other address. The
history of the origins of these dictionaries is very interesting.

I'm more interested in books about grammar and the history of the English Language.

I am interested in and collect those as well. What do you
particularly recommend ?

Which reference books do you have that pertain to dictionaries?

Not many, though i've had some from library. "Chasing the Sun" by
Jonathon Green i have.
I'll check out "A Short-Title Catalogue of the Warren N. and Suzanne B.
Cordell Collection of Dictionaries 1475-1900" when i get a chance. I
am actually working on a catalogue myself.

ER Lyon

bookbindersrus wrote:
"bookbindersrus" wrote in message
...

"xerlome" wrote in message
groups.com...

I recently posted messages to alt.usage.english on the subject of
dictionary interest and collecting. I posted there because my interest
is more in language than in collecting for colecting's sake. So far
there has been no meaningful followup. Perhaps this is a better place
for that. Below is quote from one of my messages:


I have long been interested in dictionaries, but have collected
intensively for only six years, primarily form thrift stores, garage,
library, charity sales, etc. I have rarely spent much for them until
recently since competition from bookdealing racketeers has artificially

inflated prices and scarcified many desirable books.

So, dispairing of ever finding certain items, i have spent far too much

this year ordering from online sellers. In some cases, buying
sight-unseen has proven unwise investment. For example, had i known
that Thomas Wright's 1857 "Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial
English" was a slightly revised and largely stripped-down version of
James Halliwell's 1850 "Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words,"
which i already had, i might have held onto the preposterous $75.00 i
paid for a used facsimile.

Subtitle information led me to believe that Wright covered a later
period than Halliwell. I have found it difficult to impossible to find

certain information on relatively obscure dictionaries which could have

spared me such costly discovery. $75.00 (for 2 volumes) pushes my
limits (with the exception of the $150.00 i paid for a beautiful copy
of the 12 volume 1911 edition of the "Century," which is really only
$12.50 per large volume).

I suspect there are numerous collectors who post here with whom i could

exchange arcane knowledge. I have quite an extensive collection
(primarily English), yet i have a long way to go for what i want to
have at hand. Presently, my acquisition targets include a facsimile of

the complete Johnson dictionary, Joseph Wright's "English Dialect
Dictionary, the Mayhew/Skeat "Concise Dictionary of Middle English",
volumes of the D.A.R.E, Barnhart's Dictionary Companion, etc.

I will reply to interest as time allows.

ER Lyon

What an interesting hobby. Apart from the bog standard English
dictionary...the only other reference book I use is Brewers Dictionary
of Phrase and Fable.

While we're on the subject of words...any idea of the *origin* of the
word 'egregore' ?