Webster, Noah Autograph Letter Signed (“N Webster”) to Samuel M. Hopkins of New York,discussing his plans for a specimen sheet of his proposed Dictionary New Haven, june 14 1809 In 1806 Webster published his first dictionary, A Compendious Dictionary ofthe English Language, which was a concise dictionary intended for adults containing 37,000 words — a precursor of his great dictionary of 1828. He then published an abridgment of the Compendious Dictionary for use in schools in 1807 (and again in 1817), with the hope that the proceeds from sales of these and from his school books would provide the necessary funding for his great project, an entirely new “Complete Dictionary,” which, he thought would require only a few years of labor. By 1809, Webster was trying, without great success, to sell subscriptions to the proposed volume. This letter dates from that important period, in which Webster was trying to solicit support for the project. He writes: “I have sent to Dr. Mason a specimen of my proposed Dictionary, with a few preceding observations which I request you to get a sight of — it occurred to me that the issuing of a half sheet in some such form, might aid me in my design, & a specimen of the work was mentioned by Dr. Mason. What measure my friends will think it best to take, I know not. Perhaps they may sign a recommendation of my design, & of the school books whose sales must supply me with the means of prosecuting it — & content that I should publish it with the specimen — they will take time to decide…I saw Dr. Miller & Dr. Kos__(?) of the physicians & Dr. Beech of the Episcopal Church, who expressed the utmost readiness to cooperate with other gentlemen in the design. To the other gentlemen, I wish Dr. Morneyer (/) & some others of the clergy, lawyers & physicians, may be added…” In typical fashion, Webster concludes the letter with some observations on his studies in the Ethiopic language, and remarks “Every new language I examine furnishes a number of new facts, & some new light of this subject, which is not without its use in explaining our own language…” No such specimen sheet of Webster’s Dictionary has ever been recorded . Skeel records a Broadside of 1807 (Skeel 581), and notes a “subscription blank, headed with an appeal for support in the project,” printed as Appendix XXVII in Emily Ford’s Notes on the Life of Noah Webster; two articles by Webster (The Panoplist, February 1810 & Monthly Anthology, March, 1810) appeared around this time announcing the work and asking for support (see Skeel, p. 232); and, finally, a ‘prospectus’ appeared in 1826 was published as an advertisement in the Connecticut Herald (May 2, 1826), with fourteen recommendations from prominent men — but no specimen has ever emerged, despite the evidence of this letter that Webster actually had one produced. An important letter from the early period of Webster’s struggle to produce his great dictionary 4to. 1-1/2 pp. With integral blank, addressed and postmarked on verso. Small tears at fold, outer edges a little ragged, overall very good Price: USD 10,000.00 other currencies   order no. 26009    inquire

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