Smith, William. A Dictionary of the Bible comprising its Antiquities, Biography, Geography, and Natural History (3 volume set). London: John Murray, 1863. First Edition. [10152]
Three volumes, recently perfect-bound with brick red buckram, each 9 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches, bindings with gilt titles & volume contents to spines, fine condition. Vol. I. - x., 1176 clean pp., 3 plates; Vol. II. - vi., 1008 clean pp., 2 plates; Vol. III. - pp. 1009-1854. Complete texts & plates; many in-text illustrations. Very good. Hardcover.
A first edition with the Preface date of November, 1863.
William Smith, L.L.D., Ph.D., born in London in 1814 and educated at the University of that city. He was an exemplary student of the ancient languages and took of philology as his focus of study, being elected to the chair of the Greek, Latin, and German Languages in the Independent Colleges of Highburton and Homerton. In 1850 when these institutions merged with Coward College under the name of New College in London Dr. Smith was appointed Professor of the Greek and Latin languages and Literature. In 1853 he became Classical Examiner in the University of London.
Dr. Smith was an accomplished scholar and author. His accomplishments were in the fields of classical and Biblical antiquities and he authored or edited many authoritative works in these fields including Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology, Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, Dictionary of the Bible, The Old Testament History, The New Testament History, Latin-English Dictionary, &c.
Recommendations for the Bible dictionary include: "No similar work in our own or in any other language is for a moment to be compared with it. The Christian and the scholar have here a treasure-house on every subject connected with the Bible, full to overflowing, and minute even to the tithing of mint and cummin." - London Quarterly Review.
"We turn again and again to this Dictionary, with interest, with confidence, with respectful admiration of the labour, the learning, the judgment, the conscientiousness, and the courage it displays." - Edinburgh Review.