"book-shelf", 1766 et al., antedating 1818

[victor steinbok]

It's a funny coincidence--I was just reading Rybczynski's passage on Durer's
St. Jerome in his study and he commented that "book case had not yet been
invented". I was going to check on "book-shelf" and "book-case" when I got
home. I am not home yet--just checking my mail.

Thanks, Joel--good to know.

VS-)

On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 2:19 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:


> Under "book, n., OED 1989 has "book-shelf" from merely 1818.
>
> 1)  It also has this quotation --
>
> 1671    in J. A. Johnston Probate Inventories of
> Lincoln Citizens 1661–1714 (1991) 37   Shop on ye
> East side of ye streete—press 2 hand presses one
> *plough one—old book shelves and other implyments.
>
> Does that count as an instance of "book-shelf"?
>
> I assume the following are genuine instances.  All from EAN.
>
> 2)  1766 --
>
> The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director: being
> a large Collection of the most elegant & useful
> Designs of Household Furniture ... including a
> great Variety of ...  China Cases, China Shelves, & Book Shelves ...
>
> Boston Evening-Post; Date: 10-13-1766; Issue: 1622; Page: [4]; col. 2.

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