American Illustrated Pronouncing Pocket Dictionary, Published 1870

The Book

• Title: American Illustrated Pronouncing Pocket Dictionary

• Publisher: E. Nason & Co., No. 111 Nassau Street, New York

• Era: The style of printing, binding, and typography suggests mid-to-late 19th century. The cover design includes “1870” worked into its decorative motif, which is likely the year of publication and edition date.

Physical Description

• Binding: Green cloth boards with black stamped ornamental design.

• Size: Small, pocket-sized, meant for portability.

• Condition: Shows wear at corners and spine, but still intact, typical of a well-used book over 140+ years old.

Content

• It’s a pronouncing dictionary—a compact reference guide focusing on word definitions and phonetic pronunciation.

• Contains over five thousand words, concise definitions, and some illustrations (e.g., a book diagram in the “A” section).

• Advertised as useful for literary and polite society, reflecting 19th-century educational values.

Personal Inscriptions

The inside cover has handwritten notes:

• “Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, Jan. 1896”

• Names: Miss Lenz S. Sharp and possibly Lurinda Page.

• This suggests the book belonged to a student or teacher in Clarinda, Iowa, at the end of the 19th century.

• These inscriptions add provenance and give it personal historical value.

Historical Context

• Clarinda, Iowa was a developing Midwestern town in the late 1800s, known for education and commerce. Owning a small reference book like this indicates its owner valued literacy and learning.

• E. Nason & Co. was a New York publisher active in the late 19th century, producing small-format reference books, religious works, and educational texts for a wide audience.

Collectible Value

• Books like this fall into the category of antiquarian pocket dictionaries.