A Dictionary of the English and Italian Languages

London: J Richardson, 1760. Leather. Good. 10.5" by 8". None. A scarce first edition copy of Joseph Baretti's noted Italian to English dictionary. A great success, this work was reprinted numerous times for centuries. This is the imprint with Richardson as the sole publisher to the title page. There is no priority known with this issue and the alternate issue stating C Hitch and L Hawes et al to the title page. ESTC reference no: N30800. Baretti was inspired by Samuel Johnson's dictionary, and his own low opinion of Ferdinando Altieri's English-Italian dictionary. The introduction to this edition is written by Samuel Johnson himself, and is addressed to the Spanish Ambassador. This dedication was removed following the second edition of this work. A scarce work, particularly this imprint. As mentioned, another issue of the first edition is also known, with Johnson on the title page. Baretti was an Italian literary critic, poet, writer and translator. He also wrote a similar dictionary of the Spanish Language, as well as dissertations on Shakespeare and Voltaire. A clean copy of this work. In uniform full calf bindings. Externally, with some rubbing to the spines and extremities. Wear to the head and the tail spines. Bumping to the extremities. Internally, firmly bound. Creasing to endpapers. Pages are very bright. The occasional light spot to the pages. Good