Appeal for readers (Apr. 1879)

Welcome to the facsimile text of the first edition of James Murray's Appeal to the English-speaking and English-reading public, issued in April 1879.

The second and third editions are also available here.

Although the three Appeal editions are essentially the same text, it is fascinating to trace the progress and development of the early phase of reading for the OED, evidenced by the alterations, footnotes, and accompanying material in successive editions.

The images were captured from rare documents belonging to the official OED archives, which are housed in the Archive Department at Oxford University Press. For further information, please contact Martin Maw, Archivist, Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP, UK.

Go to the facsimile text.