ALS signed "N. Webster," one page, 7.75 x 9.75, April 24, 1841. Letter to Gideon Hawley in Albany. In full: "Mr. Medfield, the bearer, goes to Albany with a few copies of the new edition of the American Dictionary for sale. This edition is much improved, & the typographical execution is thought to surpass any works of the kind in this kind of publication. I inclose for your reading a manuscript which I had at first intended to be addressed to the Regents of the University. But I know not that it would be becoming for me or useful to others. When I see what books are used in schools in your state, as in others, I pretty much despair of ever doing any good by my publications. I inclose a bill for the Northern Light one year." In very good to fine condition, with small tape repairs to small edge tears.
After publishing his first dictionary in 1806, Webster immediately began work on an expanded version, which would grow to over 70,000 entries-many of which had never appeared in any dictionary before-and take 26 years to complete. Plagued by debt from the relative failure of the first edition, which sold only 2,500 copies and forced him to mortgage his home, it was crucial that the second edition succeed. A year prior to this letter, 82-year-old Webster finally published the new edition to a much wider and more receptive audience-presumably including some of the New York school systems he was targeting in this letter.
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