Freeston Antiques and Collectibles

Book of Words

We sold an old dictionary for $10, missing its front and rear boards, the last item in a box of antique books.  Here’s what we heard from the buyer: 

I received the dictionary yesterday and was very surprised and pleased. As soon as I opened the box I recognized it right away, a Perry's dictionary, a third edition dated 1806. These dictionaries are of note for extreme rarity and value. The first edition was printed by Isaiah Thomas in 1788, of note because it is the very first book ever printed in the NEW United States, under the advice of George Washington to his friend and fellow freemason Isaiah Thomas.   These, in any condition, are very rare. I have only seen two. One sold for $3,000.00 at Sotheby’s about ten years ago and I found one in a western New York antique store for $2.00. This one I bought from you is of note because it was the last book published in America using old English.  You might get a kick out of this: in 1806 the definition of a "politician" was: an artful, cunning individual; one of deep contrivance, a schemer.