- TRUE FIRST EDITION OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY -

A NEW ENGLISH DICTIONARY ON HISTORICAL PRINCIPLES; FOUNDED MAINLY ON THE MATERIALS COLLECTED BY THE PHILOLOGICAL SOCIETY. EDITED BY JAMES A.H. MURRAY... WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF MANY SCHOLARS AND MEN OF SCIENCE

Oxford: At The Clarendon Press, July 1, 1911 - January 1, 1916. A collection of seven original first edition fascicles, all but one (Jan. 1916) in titled dust jackets. Each measures approx. 13-1/2 x 11 inches. Most written by James A. H. Murray. Listing includes:

July 1, 1911 - Vol. IX; Team -Teckere

Oct. 2, 1911 - Vol. IX; Simple - Sleep

April 1, 1912 - Vol. IX; Th - Thyzle

Jan. 1, 1914 - Vol. IX; Sorrow - Speech

Oct. 1, 1914 -  Vol. IX; Speech - Spring

April 1, 1915 - Vol. IX; Spring - Squoyle / St - Standard

Jan., 1916 - Vol. IX; Subterraneously - Sullen

Chipping to dust jackets, particularly spines, otherwise very good overall condition (see pictures).

"The First Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary was originally issued in short parts or sections—now often called ‘fascicles’—as well as in volumes (and, later, half-volumes). The earliest fascicles were called ‘parts’, and contained over 300 pages. From 1894 it was decided to issue shorter fascicles called ‘sections’; a typical section contained 64 or 72 pages. The aim was to produce at least one section every quarter; sometimes it was possible to issue a ‘double section’, or even on occasion a ‘triple section’, containing twice or three times the usual number of pages. It continued to be possible to purchase the Dictionary in the form of ‘parts’ of roughly the same size as the earliest fascicles, these being generally equivalent to five single sections. Many parts and sections were issued with Prefaces—or, in some cases, short prefatory notes—written by the relevant Editor; in addition, when a volume, or a half-volume, or a particular letter was completed, a separate Preface might be produced for it. This section includes all of the known Prefaces issued during the publication of the First Edition (1884–1928)."