Webster's New International Dictionary by G. & C. Merriam Co. (RARE India Paper Edition), 1915 🕰️ 📜📚

 

1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare India paper edition of Webster's New International Dictionary, a monumental work of American lexicography and publishing.

Published in 1915, this volume stands as a defining artifact of American intellectual history. It is not merely a reference text, but rather it is a unique window into the English language and the state of American scholarship at the turn of the 20th century.

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2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Webster's New International Dictionary is a masterpiece of American lexicography, with an unabridged vocabulary of over 400,000 entries and more than double the number of illustrations from previous editions.

The India paper used for this edition is a thin yet strong and opaque paper, which drastically reduced the book's bulk, transforming the massive, comprehensive volume into a more manageable reference tool. The book is an essential primary source for any scholar or dedicated reader of 20th-century American history and publishing. Its contents include:

• A comprehensive vocabulary with over 400,000 entries.

• A variety of illustrations and detailed plates on topics like Fraternal Emblems, Architectural Statues, Aeronautics, and Steamboat Funnels.

• A dedicated Reference History of the World section.

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3. About the Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

The collective author of this work is the G. & C. Merriam Company, the publisher of Webster's dictionaries for over a century. Founded in Springfield, Massachusetts, the company was the direct lexicographical heir to Noah Webster, who first published his seminal American Dictionary of the English Language in 1828.

Merriam’s mission was to compile an authoritative reference for the English language, a project they continued to revise and expand over the decades. This book showcases their dedication to scholarship and their role in defining a national linguistic identity. The work reflects:

• The intellectual and professional identity of the company.

• Their commitment to a comprehensive and accessible approach to defining the English language.

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4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1915, this book is an artifact of the Progressive Era in America. It was a period of immense social and political upheaval, as the nation grappled with the rise of industrialization and the growing tensions leading to World War I.

This dictionary's publication reflects a widespread desire for a new, definitive American reference that was distinct from British versions. The book is a "time capsule" of early 20th-century American intellectual thought.

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5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American lexicography, a historian of American publishing, or a private collector of fine reference books. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's dual significance as a foundational historical document and a physical artifact of its time.

This is a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind a nation’s intellectual history. The book appeals to:

• Scholars and historians of American intellectual history.

• Bibliophiles who appreciate high-quality binding and intellectual history.

• Collectors building a library that tells the story of how American society was transformed.

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6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare India paper edition from 1915, this book represents a genuinely scarce non-replicable asset class.

While the dictionary was a commercial success, the scarcity of a well-preserved copy of this specific edition makes it a premium and highly desirable item. The price is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age. The book’s value is enhanced by its place in history:

• International Fame: The 1864 edition was considered "superior to every other dictionary" and the "leading authority" not only in America and England, but "throughout the Far East". This edition continues that legacy.

• Predecessor to Modern Works: It is a direct ancestor to all modern Merriam-Webster dictionaries and the controversial Webster's Third New International Dictionary. Its true worth lies in its historical context and its scarcity within the specialized field of antiquarian books.

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7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This volume is a well-preserved piece showing honest wear consistent with its age from the early 20th century. The original leather binding is in a solid state, with a tight and sound binding. The covers show rubbing and scuffing, particularly along the edges and on the spine. The pages have some expected discoloration and toning throughout, a natural process for paper from this period.

• Binding: The leather binding is intact with some rubbing and scuffing to the exterior and wear along the edges. The thumb tabs on the side of the pages are all present and functional.

• Interior: The pages are free from any major tears or stains, with the exception of one page which is loose from the binding but is not detached. The interior text block is clean. The marbled endpapers remain intact and show minimal wear.

• Pamphlets: The book is accompanied by two rare pamphlets, "IMPORTANT NOTICE" and "A NEW CREATION", which are in good condition with minor toning consistent with age.

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8. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

• This edition's ancestor, the 1864 edition, was the first to largely overhaul Noah Webster's original work, leading to its international fame and status as the "leading authority" on word meaning.

• The divided page format was introduced in this dictionary to save space, with a section of very fine print at the bottom of each page for rarely used, foreign, or obsolete words.

• The illustrations include detailed plates on topics like aeronautics, showing the latest in early 20th-century aviation, and fraternal emblems, showcasing the symbols of various organizations.

• The accompanying pamphlets are a rare survival. The "IMPORTANT NOTICE" pamphlet served as a user's guide to the book, while the "A NEW CREATION" pamphlet was a promotional tool highlighting the dictionary's new features.

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9. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

• Title: Webster's New International Dictionary

• Author/Maker: G. & C. Merriam Co.

• Year: 1915

• Publisher/Foundry: G. & C. Merriam Co.

• Place of Origin: Springfield, Mass., U.S.A.

• Format/Binding: Leather and cloth, with thumb tabs

• Edition: India Paper Edition

• Rarity: Rare

Transcription: Transcription of the "IMPORTANT NOTICE" pamphlet:

The General Vocabulary... containing over 400,000 defined words... The Gazetteer of the World... more than 25,000 places... The Biographical Dictionary... more than 10,000 eminent persons... The Reference History of the World... containing nearly 20,000 Historical References. Transcription of the "A NEW CREATION" pamphlet: A NEW CREATION / New from Cover to Cover / WEBSTER'S NEW INTERNATIONAL DICTIONARY / ...over 400,000 Defined words and phrases... / ...about 6000 Illustrations... / GET THE BEST / In Scholarship, Convenience, Authority, Utility. / G. & C. MERRIAM CO., Publishers, SPRINGFIELD, MASS., U.S.A.