A Popular and Complete English Dictionary, edited by the Rev. John Boag, 1848

Published in 1848, John Boag's A Popular and Complete English Dictionary was among the earliest substantial dictionaries issued by William Collins of Glasgow, marking the beginning of the publishing tradition that would eventually develop into the famous Collins dictionaries. Drawing upon earlier authorities including Webster while incorporating thousands of additional scientific, literary and technical terms, Boag produced a comprehensive and accessible work intended for both the general reader and the expanding Victorian educational market. Combining pronunciation, etymology and definitions with an introductory grammar and history of the English language, it represents an important milestone in nineteenth-century British lexicography.

A Popular and Complete English Dictionary, Exhibiting the Pronunciation, Tymology, and Explanation of Every Word Usually Employed in Science, Literature, and Art. In Two Volumes. Edited by the Rev. John Boag.

Published by William Collins, Glasgow and London, 1848. First edition, first impression.

A good set of hardbacks bound in contemporary bindings with calf spines and corners. The spine with raised bands and gilt tooling. Boards with brown cloth over boards. Covers are rubbed and bumped with scuffing and marks to cloth. The backstrip of Vol II has been reglued - securely but with glue residue visible along front joint. 

With plain green endpapers with small bookseller’s stickers to first pastedown for the sale and binding of the books - Wm. Rae, of Wick in Scotland. Securely bound - cracked to gutter after the title of Vol. I, but all holding fast.

Text pages are bright and clean with a few scattered spots to first and last few pages. Text block edges with decorative speckling.

Now an uncommon edition.

Text in English.

Vol. I: 736pp; 

Vol II: (1) Title + 737-1497pp. 

Dimensions: each volume approx 240mm high x 163mm wide x 50mm deep.

Weight: approximately 2.54kg (the set - unpacked).