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GROSE, Francis.
A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
First edition of what was then the largest assemblage of "non-standard" words or meanings omitted from Johnson's Dictionary. Grose's long military career was probably of great use to him in the collection, which drew on his fieldwork as far back as the 1750s. "Every entry bears the unmistakable imprint of the vivid accuracy and the jolly, jovial, earthiness of the greatest antiquary, joker, and porter-drinker of his day, and one of the happiest wits of the late 18th century ... Nowhere more than in The Vulgar Tongue did he display his scholarship and industry ... The indelicacy and extreme vulgarity of the work renders it unfit for ordinary use, still it must be admitted that it is by far the most important work which has ever appeared on street or popular language ... it is really an extraordinary book" (Partridge, Cant Dictionary, p. 76).
Octavo. Early nineteenth-century quarter calf, apparently French though the morocco spine label is lettered in English, flat spine gilt in compartments, mottled paper sides. Complete as issued, without half-title. Small contemporary private library stamp at foot of title numbered in manuscript; no other markings. A little rubbed, the title leaf (a singleton) just beginning to part from the text block in the centre but held secure at head and tail, a very good copy.
