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The Merriam brothers desired a continuity of editorship that would link Noah Webster's efforts with their own editions, so they selected Chauncey A. Goodrich, Webster's son-in-law and literary heir, who had been trained in lexicography by Webster himself, to be their editor in chief. Webster's son William also served as an editor of that first Merriam-Webster dictionary, which was published on September 24, 1847.
Although Webster's work was honored, his big dictionaries had never sold well. The 1828 edition was priced at a whopping $20; in 13 years its 2,500 copies had not sold out. Similarly, the 1841 edition, only slightly more affordable at $15, moved slowly. Assuming that a lower price would increase sales, the Merriams introduced the 1847 edition at $6, and although Webster's heirs initially questioned this move, extraordinary sales that brought them $250,000 in royalties over the ensuing 25 years convinced them that the Merriams' decision had been abundantly sound.
The first Merriam-Webster dictionary was greeted with wide acclaim. President James K. Polk, General Zachary Taylor (hero of the Mexican War and later president himself), 31 U.S. senators, and other prominent people hailed it unreservedly. In 1850 its acceptance as a resource for students began when Massachusetts ordered a copy for every school and New York placed a similar order for 10,000 copies to be used in schools throughout the state. Eventually school use would spread throughout the country. In becoming America's most trusted authority on the English language, Merriam-Webster dictionaries had taken on a role of public responsibility demanded of few other publishing companies.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Quotation Book,
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This review is from: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations (Mass Market Paperback)
Thank you Merriam-Webster. The M-W Dictionary of Quotations is outstanding. The extensive and exquisite quotes are arranged perfectly into easy-to-find categories - perfect for use in all types of writing.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
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Great Value!,
This review is from: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations (Mass Market Paperback)
This is probably one of the best values in the quote book market! Very cheap book with thousands of quotes at an affordable price. It is a great reference book to keep on your desk if you use quotes regularly in your writing or speeches. I highly recommend this book. Enjoy!
Todd Hagopian President/CEO Hagopian Institute Author of the popular "Quote Junkie" book sereies and the brand new "Idiom Junkie" series
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Convienent Reading,
By PaganDeva2000 "pagandeva2000" (Queens, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Quotations (Mass Market Paperback)
I have recently become a Quote Junkie and definitely appreciate the format of this book! Great reference, great reading and great inspiration!
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