Lot 4198 email save

Cobb PRONOUNCING ENGLISH 1821 Rare 1st Ed Ithaca

Title: A Just Standard for Pronouncing the English Language
Author: Lyman Cobb, Philom.
Publisher: Spencer & Stockton (Ithaca, NY)
Printing Year: 1821 First Edition

Condition/Details: Bound in embossed calfskin, this antique volume is an exceedingly rare first edition example of a speller that was to become a very popular English language reference book selling millions of copies into the 1850s and rivaling Webster's spelling book. At the time of this printing from a short-lived publishing company in Ithaca, Lyman Cobb was a twenty-one year old schoolteacher in Upstate New York. He borrowed heavily from Daniel Crandall's spelling book in the production of this volume, but Cobb's publication ultimately became much more popular. The volume shows light external wear, and is solidly bound with clean pages. Athough there are multiple citations extant that define this 1821 Spencer & Stockton edition as the first printing, an exhaustive search of auction records, booksellers' listings and university libraries yielded no other examples, making this book a special find. Additionally, the volume has some interesting provenance: the front board is embossed "Gerret Mandeville," an Ithaca-area resident whose endorsement of the publication is quoted in the "Recommendations" section of the book. Two other Mandevilles' period inscriptions and bookplate are found on the pastedowns. Note: we are also selling a different Lyman Cobb pronouncing dictionary from 1829 during this auction. The book shows nicely with some mild external age/wear and is solidly bound with somewhat age toned, intact pages. The book measures approximately 4" x 6.75" and contains 195 pages. Shipping cost (within the U.S.) for this lot will be: $4.50