Pictorial Webster's: A Visual Dictionary of Curiosities

Featuring over 1,500 engravings that originally graced the pages of Webster's dictionaries in the 19th century, this volume is an irresistible treasure trove for art lovers, designers, and anyone with an interest in visual history. Meticulously cleaned and restored by fine-press bookmaker Johnny Carrera, the engravings in Pictorial Webster's have been compiled into an alluring and unusual visual reference guide for the modern day.

The book is a richly illustrated, pictorial album. The content and arrangement of the book is based on a collection of original rare engravings belonging to the private collection of Jan Kozák. The individual full-page reproductions give historical views on natural disasters such as: earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, avalanches, landslides and rock falls. The illustrations are accompanied by informative text describing the geophysical and historical background of the disasters, the origin of each of the engravings and the stories behind the events as well as modern day perspectives.

It is not given to every one to be able to consult the old Naturalists; and, besides, most of them are written in Latin, and to read them through is partly unprofitable work, as they copy so largely one from another. But, for the general reader, selections can be made, and, if assisted by accurate reproductions of the very quaint wood engravings, a book may be produced which will not prove tiring, even to a superficial reader.