(INDIA). JOHNSON, W[illiam] B[radford]. ~ Part I. [?all published] of the English, French and Bengallee primer, or, An easy Vocabulary of fifteen hundred common Words for the Use of Youth... a New Edition. Calcutta: India Gazette Press by Scott and Co, [n.d, c. 1825-32].
4to (202 × 160 mm), pp. [6], 1-16, 21-79, [3] (including final subscribers’ list leaf), wanting 4 pages (17-20) and with pp. 65-72 bound in reverse order. Text in French and Bengali in three columns, with early manuscript transliterations of the Bengali characters into Western script. Fore-edges at front and rear somewhat thumbed and frayed, with loss of one letter on the title, touching another, the following tow leaves with an early paper reinforcement, some dampstaining. Contemporary Indian goatskin, spine with decorative gilt bands, sides with blindtooled borders. Rubbed, with some further wear to the edges, a few small wormholes, front free endpaper creased and slightly frayed, nonetheless sound. Aside from the consistent manuscript additions there are various pencil annotations in Bengali. Early notes (in French to front free endpaper).
A rare trilingual juvenile vocabulary, the French with syllabic divisions, the Bengali with full early manuscript transliteration (in a single hand). The vocabulary is extensive, covering everyday necessities, including basic anatomy and health, clothing, foodstuffs, church and school, animals (mainly domestic), numbers, character, minerals and gems, crime and law, behavioural traits, military terms, trade and commerce, science and geography. The subscribers list contains circa 120 names, of which 31 are native Indians. Sir Charles Edward Grey (Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of Bengal 1825-1832) heads the list with six copies, while the first of the Indian subscribers is Maha Rajah Budenauth Roy. Despite the title statements we can identify no earlier edition, nor further part. We can locate copies at Bodley and Library of the American Oriental Society (Yale) only.