Hungarian English Dictionary Appraisal

Magyar-Angol Kéziszótár by Országh László

This is a vintage mid-century Hungarian-English concise dictionary (Magyar-Angol Kéziszótár) authored by the renowned lexicographer László Országh. The book is a hardcover edition bound in a light grey or pale blue textured cloth, typical of academic publications from the 1950s. The front cover features blue-stamped serif typography indicating the author and title, along with a circular publisher's seal at the bottom for Akadémiai Kiadó Budapest, the publishing house of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Physically, the volume shows signs of its age with visible shelf wear, including minor bumping at the corners and the top and bottom of the spine. There is a noticeable yellowish circular stain or foxing mark on the upper right quadrant of the front cover. The cloth binding appears slightly faded but intact. This specific work is significant as László Országh was a foundational figure in Hungarian anglicist studies, and his dictionaries remained the standard for decades. The craftsmanship is utilitarian but sturdy, designed for frequent linguistic reference during the post-WWII socialist era in Hungary.