[First Edition] An English-Welsh Pronouncing Dictionary...

Publication: Carmarthen, W. Spurrell / London, H. Hughes, 1850 Formatting: 8vo, pp.Â436. 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 Spurrellâs 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.

Estimate:$66.48

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