An American Dictionary of the English Language; first edition in octavo. 2 vols.

Noah Webster.

An American Dictionary of the English Language; first edition in octavo. 2 vols.

New Haven:

Printed by B.L. Hamlen for the author,

1841. 

Webster horrified his family by mortgaging his house to self-publish this book. All his ventures had proved disastrous, and this one was no different. Webster printed 3,000 copies; when he died, 1,420 lay in unbound sheets. 

Webster tried promotions. This copy was sent to President William Henry Harrison for his Inaugural: “Presented to President Harrison, March 4 1841, with the authors [sic] respects.” Harrison had little time to consult it: 30 days later, he died of pneumonia. 

Courtesy of the Harlan Crow Library. HHD no. 70