1828 Webster's Dictionary $70 dollars????

Josh
Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭
edited November 2024 in English Forum

This seems incredibly high for a very old single-volume English dictionary! You can buy the new up-to-date Collins English Unabridged Dictionary for less!!

Tongue Tied

Comments

  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    Yea, but that is for a large print facsimile edition. This work is public domain and available free online. Was there no way Logos could have offered this cheaper?? 

  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,077 ✭✭✭

    Well, I don't need it, but I might buy it if it were less...like half less.

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  • JT (alabama24)
    JT (alabama24) MVP Posts: 36,523

    The edition comes from the same publisher... 

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  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭

    alabama24 said:

    The edition comes from the same publisher... 

    This was not necessary. This is a public domain work. In fact, the text has already been digitized and is available online for free! Either way, I'm not sure how this should affect the price so drastically. The print version is not expensive because of the content!

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    You can get a better deal when you purchase it in The Christian History Library  11 volumes. 

    The hardback version of this dictionary is $60.

    If you don't want the whole set, shop around for the Libronix CD of KJV & dictionary only.

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  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    The print version is not expensive because of the content!

    It certainly is when you are talking of this publisher! The content includes more than just the dictionary. 

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  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    The print version is not expensive because of the content!

    It certainly is when you are talking of this publisher! The content includes more than just the dictionary. 

    I'm not sure which publisher you are referring to. Logos? If so, Logos was able to turn the massive Collins English Dictionary into a "Logos resource" - tagged up and everything - for less than this centuries old, simpler, public domain English dictionary.

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    I'm not sure which publisher you are referring to. Logos?

    This Logos resource is a third-party production It is published by the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.) It includes some introductory material that relates to the "principle approach" of studying American history. There are several brilliant historians over at FA.C.E. and one of them, Rosalie Slater, worked on the dictionary contents. Included is a biographical piece on Noah Webster in which we read of Webster's statement of faith, political offices he held., and a multitude of related facts.

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  • DMB
    DMB Member Posts: 14,482 ✭✭✭✭

    But $70??  

    Now I'll admit I'm abusing my spiffy new Libronix logo. But let's be honest ... Logos did NOT give it to me. So I think agreeing with Josh will be ok.

    "If myth is ideology in narrative form, then scholarship is myth with footnotes." B. Lincolm 1999.

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    Denise said:

    But $70??  

    Like I said, shop around. I've seen it go for as low as $30  ($45 right now).  The hardback version is expensive because of the binding and contents. The electronic version loses that exquisite binding. [:(]

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  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    I'm not sure which publisher you are referring to. Logos?

    This Logos resource is a third-party production It is published by the Foundation for American Christian Education (F.A.C.E.) It includes some introductory material that relates to the "principle approach" of studying American history. There are several brilliant historians over at FA.C.E. and one of them, Rosalie Slater, worked on the dictionary contents. Included is a biographical piece on Noah Webster in which we read of Webster's statement of faith, political offices he held., and a multitude of related facts.

    I'd forgo the "introductory material" if it means saving 45 dollars! Besides, its the definitions that I want. Logos needs to drop F.A.C.E.'s production and make their own. It wouldn't be hard - especially since the "public domain" part of this resource is already digitized and tagged.

    Anyone who wants to view this resource for free can do so here.

  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    Anyone who wants to view this resource for free can do so here.

    Yeah, and anyone who thinks this is too expensive can make their own PBB out of your link. [;)] There is something to be said about linking. A modern Webster's or Collins dictionary is worth about $10 or $15. But the 1828 Edition has so much in scripture references it is a bear to link. The work in bringing this into Logos is the definitions themselves. The scripture content is what makes this edition desirable.

    Josh said:

    I'd forgo the "introductory material" if it means saving 45 dollars!

    You can have the introductory material included for $45 total. You won't get the dictionary sans intro material for free. So it is not costing you $45 for it to be included. I challenge anyone to make a PBB out of the online source. [:D] It is common to see a higher price in Logos than what a third party sells their resource for. Consider titles from IVP, Tyndale, and eNelson that are no longer sold by Logos because of price disparity. Logos makes a perpetual commitment to support and maintain resources. A third party may publish it, sell it for a cheap price, then dump it on Logos' back for that wonderful support. Galaxie is the only publisher I know of who diverts you back to Logos for the purchase of their product.My point is; you won't see Logos selling a $10 Webster's 1828 dictionary or producing IVP's Doctrine series by Oden. (Remember the Ancient Christian Commentary?) If you can get it for free and think the linked version has no superior benefit, Logos can't compete. It costs Logos money to produce quality materials.

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  • Rosie Perera
    Rosie Perera Member Posts: 26,194 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Like I said, shop around. I've seen it go for as low as $30  ($45 right now).

    Still available for $30 at the online store which sells everything from A to Z. Google -- "American Dictionary of the English Language" Libronix -- and you should find it. It was the first hit for me. You have to click the "new" link to find one of the sellers in their network who offer it at that price.

  • Josh
    Josh Member Posts: 1,529 ✭✭✭

    Like I said, shop around. I've seen it go for as low as $30  ($45 right now).

    Still available for $30 at the online store which sells everything from A to Z. Google -- "American Dictionary of the English Language" Libronix -- and you should find it. It was the first hit for me. You have to click the "new" link to find one of the sellers in their network who offer it at that price.

    Thanks Rosie. This brings up another point though. If other sellers can sell this resource for less than half the price, why can't Logos. Logos is just losing business. I'd rather not have to buy somewhere else.

  • Milford Charles Murray
    Milford Charles Murray Member Posts: 5,004 ✭✭✭

    Peace to you, Josh!          Rosie pointed out that the Amazon "offering" is Libronix!               That's just an old left-over Logos product that's been floating around that Current Logos has no control over!  I'm sure Logos wishes all those "loose cannons" were long gone!          *smile*

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  • David Paul
    David Paul Member Posts: 6,077 ✭✭✭

    The question I have is...are the definitions in this dictionary "better" than those in more current dictionaries?

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  • Matthew C Jones
    Matthew C Jones Member Posts: 10,295 ✭✭✭

    The question I have is...are the definitions in this dictionary "better" than those in more current dictionaries?

    If you are reading a John Piper book and need a dictionary, use a modern Webster's or Collins. If you are reading the Federalist Papers or John Wesley's writings, use Webster's 1828 edition.  The whole purpose of Webster's first dictionary was to define Americanisms of the day, as well as to standardize the spelling of words. Until then, spelling was whatever the phonetically challenged chose it to be. So it depends on the work you are reading as to whether it is "better" or not. Most modern dictionaries have lost a lot of depth when it comes to etymology.

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  • George Somsel
    George Somsel Member Posts: 10,150 ✭✭✭

    Josh said:

    This seems incredibly high for a very old single-volume English dictionary! You can buy the new up-to-date Collins English Unabridged Dictionary for less!!

    Tongue Tied

    There is basically only one reason I can think of that would induce me to buy a dictionary that old—it's a collector's item.  Then, however, I would want an original print edition.

    george
    gfsomsel

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  • toughski
    toughski Member Posts: 1,288 ✭✭✭

    ADEL or Websters1828 is a niche item and is priced accordingly. I bought it bundled with other stuff for less what Logos is selling it now. If you really want/need this title - contact sales and see if they can make you an offer.