Samuel Johnson published A Dictionary of the English Language in London in 1755. It was unique at that time because of the precission of the definitions found in it, he carefully divided and ordered the definitions of the words and then made citations of quotations from the entire English literature. It was the first dictionary to include these quotations. This all helped support and illustrate every possible meaning of each word.
The dictionary also included a history of the language, and a list of words of basic general voacbulary.
It is considered the first book to show the prevailing ideals and resources and the best available techniques of European lexicography.