An exceptional first edition copy of "The Imperial Dictionary, English, Technological, and Scientific" (Volume 1, A–I), edited by the renowned Scottish lexicographer John Ogilvie and published by Blackie and Son in 1850. This monumental volume is a true landmark in publishing history, widely celebrated as the very first major English dictionary to feature extensive illustrations. It contains roughly 2,000 beautifully detailed wood engravings meticulously integrated into the text to visually define complex technological, scientific, and natural history terms of the era.
Ogilvie famously expanded upon Noah Webster's earlier American work, adapting it specifically for a British audience by incorporating traditional Scottish provincial words and a vast influx of new terminology born from the height of the Industrial Revolution. Rather than just a list of definitions, this text stands as a fascinating direct reflection of Victorian society at the time—capturing the period's intense industrial optimism, rapid scientific advancement, and obsessive drive to catalog the expanding modern world.
The condition is very good for an antique book. Featuring its original half-leather binding, the spine and pages show genuine wear consistent with its age, but the volume remains entirely intact, sturdy, and fully readable.
This historic volume would suit collectors of rare Victorian books, historians of science and technology, or anyone looking for a striking display piece that embodies nineteenth-century industrial optimism.