De Bry Rare Books
First French - English Dictionary in Original Binding - 1611 - Cotgrave's "A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues"
First French - English Dictionary in Original Binding - 1611 - Cotgrave's "A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues"
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A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues. Compiled by Randle Cotgrave
-Rare 1st Edition from 1611
-Published by Adam Islip
-Complete
-Collation: TP, Dedication to Lord Cecil, To the reader, Complete A-Z, "Briefe Directions for such as desire to learne the French Tongue" (10 pages), 4 pages of The French Grammar (Incomplete section but not called for in this edition)
-Very good condition. Old Candle burn to outer edge of first few leaves
-Original 17th Century Full calf binding with Guilt (Holding firm but the leather would benefit from some professional conservation)
-Signature of John Buxton (Norwich) to flyleaf. Old price of 8 Shillings to inside front cover
-Publication date incorrectly changed to 1641 with pen (actual publication date 1611)
Randle Cotgrave was born to a Cheshire family, and after studying at Cambridge became secretary to William Cecil, Lord Burghley (chief advisor to Elizabeth I). This 1611 dictionary is dedicated to Lord Burghley.
Cotgrave’s work featured words derived from a wide variety of sources and French dialects. For the period it was a remarkably careful and scholarly piece of lexicography, and is often regarded as the first English dictionary. It is likely that Shakespeare would have owned a copy of this dictionary.
