Publications of James Abree

Note: The following printer, bookseller, or publisher lists are works in progress. They are generated from title page imprints and may reproduce false and misleading attributions or contain errors.

What does "printed by" mean? How to read the roles ascribed to people in the imprints.

In terms of the book trades, the lists below are sorted into up to four groups where: the person is designated in the imprint as having a single role:

  1. "printed by x"; or
  2. "sold by x"; or
  3. "printed for x" or "published by x"; or

as having multiple roles in combination (which suggests a likelihood that the person is a trade publisher):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

Printers (owners of the type and printing presses, and possibly owners of the copyright) may be identified by the words printed by, but printed by does not universally designate a person who is a printer by trade. Booksellers may be identified by the words sold by, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally identified by the words printed for, but nothing should be concluded in this regard without further evidence, especially since "printed for" could signify that the named person was a distributor rather than a copyright holder. Trade publishers, who distributed books and pamphlets but did not own the copyright or employ a printer—and were not printers themselves—might be identified by the words printed and sold by. Furthermore, works from this period often display false imprints, whether to evade copyright restrictions, to conceal the name of the copyright holders, or to dupe unwitting customers. Ultimately, one must proceed with caution in using the following lists: designations in the imprints may not reliably reflect the actual trades or roles of the people named, and the formulas used in imprints do not consistently mean the same thing.

David Foxon discussed the "meaning of the imprint" in his Lyell Lecture delivered at Oxford in March 1976, with particular attention to "publishers" in the eighteenth-century context:

The fullest form of an imprint is one which names three people, or groups of people:
     London: printed by X (the printer), for Y (the bookseller who owned the copyright), and sold by Z.
In the eighteenth century the printer's name is rarely given, at least in works printed in London, and the form is more commonly:
     London: printed for Y, and sold by Z.
Very often in this period, and particularly for pamphlets, it is further abbreviated to:
     London: printed and sold by Z.
It is this last form which is my present concern. Z is usually what the eighteenth century called 'a publisher', or one who distributes books and pamphlets without having any other responsibility—he does not own the copyright or employ a printer, or even know the author.

D. F. McKenzie coined the term "trade publisher" for these publishers in his Sandars Lectures, also in 1976, on the grounds that their principal role was to publish on behalf of other members of the book trade (Treadwell 100).

Michael Treadwell cautions that "In this period the imprint 'London: Printed and sold by A.B.' normally means 'Printed at London, and sold by A.B.' and must not be taken to mean that A.B. is a printer in the absence of other evidence." Further, "The imprint 'published by' occurs only rarely in Wing and is almost always associated with the name of a trade publisher" (104). While there are exceptions to the rule, it is "certain," he explains, "that anyone who made a speciality of distributing works for others will show a far higher proportion than normal of imprints in one of the 'sold by' forms" (116), which appear in the imprint as "sold by," "printed and sold by," or "published by" (104). Treadwell gives Walter Kettilby as an example of "a fairly typical copyright-owning bookseller" (106)—his role is almost always designated by the phrase "printed for" on imprints.

A final caution: publisher is a word that should be used with some deliberation. Samuel Johnson defines it simply as "One who puts out a book into the world," but "published by" rarely appears on the imprint until later in the eighteenth century, and then primarily associated with newspapers and pamphlets. Treadwell observes that John Dunton names only five publishers among the 200 binders and booksellers in his autobiographical Life and Errors (1705) wherein he undertakes "to draw the Character of the most Eminent [Stationers] in the Three Kingdoms" (100). Treadwell also remarks, however, that "in law, anyone who offered a work for sale 'published' it. In this sense every work had one or more 'publishers', and every bookseller, mercury, and hawker was a 'publisher'" (114).

See:

  • Terry Belanger, "From Bookseller to Publisher: Changes in the London Book Trade, 1750–1850," in Book Selling and Book Buying. Aspects of the Nineteenth-Century British and North American Book Trade, ed. Richard G. Landon (Chicago: American Library Association, 1978).
  • Bricker, Andrew Benjamin. "Who was 'A. Moore'? The Attribution of Eighteenth-Century Publications with False and Misleading Imprints," in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 110.2 (2016).
  • John Dunton, The Life and Errors of John Dunton (London: Printed for S. Malthus, 1705).
  • John Feather, "The Commerce of Letters: The Study of the Eighteenth-Century Book Trade," Eighteenth-Century Studies 17 (1984).
  • David Foxon, Pope and the Early Eighteenth-Century Book Trade, ed. James McLaverty (Oxford University Press, 1991).
  • Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language, (printed for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, 1755).
  • D.F. McKenzie, The London Book Trade in the Later Seventeenth Century (Sandars lectures in bibliography, 1977).
  • Michael Treadwell, "London Trade Publishers 1675–1750," The Library sixth series, vol. 4, no. 2 (1982).

Printed by James Abree

  • The Kentish post, or, Canterbury news-letter. Canterbury [England]: printed by J. Abree in St. margaret's. Where advertisements are taken in and books and shop-keepers bills neatly printed. ESTC No. P2129. Grub Street ID 55843.
  • A list of the names of the Mayor, recorder, aldermen and common-council of the city of Canterbury; who (in the year of our Lord 1717,) promoted and encouraged the noble art and mystery of printing in this city and county. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, for T. James, S. Palmer and W. Hunter. [London?], 1718. ESTC No. T61883. Grub Street ID 287493.
  • A panegyrical poem on the fair and celebrated beauties in and about the city of Canterbury: Most Respectfully and Humbly inscrib'd, To all the aforesaid Bright Young Ladies. In and Near the aforesaid City. By T. H. Gent. Canterbury: printed for the author by J. Abree in Castle-Street, 1718. ESTC No. T61986. Grub Street ID 287585.
  • H., T.. A congratulatory poem, on the anniversary-day of His Majesty King George's coronation, being Monday October 20. 1718. ... By T. H. gent. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1718. ESTC No. N27002. Grub Street ID 16340.
  • Read, R, Philomath. A table shewing the neat money of any quantity of corn or grain whatsoever, from a bushel to a score. The Allowance of One in Twenty One, commonly call'd Fulls or Scoreage, being deducted in neat Money. Recommended (as useful) to all Farmers, Maltsters, Brewers, and others. By R. Read, Philomath. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree and W. Aylett, 1722. ESTC No. T98352. Grub Street ID 317646.
  • Cooke, Shadrach. Religious thankfulness, stated and recommended. In a sermon preach'd at Faversham in Kent, on St. Mark's day, 1723. The solemn thansgiving [sic] for deliverance and preservation from the plague. By Shadrach Cooke, ... Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1723. ESTC No. N55500. Grub Street ID 38999.
  • A copy of verses humbly presented to all my worthy masters and mistresses in the city and county of Canterbury; wishing them health and happiness. By Thomas Hall, your loyal bell-man. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1723. ESTC No. T171830. Grub Street ID 209362.
  • A copy of verses humbly presented to all my worthy masters and mistresses, in the city and county of Canterbury; wishing them health and happiness. By Thomas Hall, your loyal bell-man. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1724. ESTC No. T171832. Grub Street ID 209363.
  • Gray, John. A further answer, being a true representation of Mr. Worger's case, in confutation of Dr. Packe's written paper. By John Gray, M.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1726. ESTC No. T1008. Grub Street ID 154709.
  • Gray, John. A short answer to a written paper privately handed about by Dr. Packe, entitled, Mr. Worger's case. By John Gray, M.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1726. ESTC No. T175260. Grub Street ID 212343.
  • Gray, John. Copies of affidavits made at the * repeated request of Dr. Packe, and publish'd for his use. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1726. ESTC No. T1009. Grub Street ID 154814.
  • Lewis, John. Proposals for printing by subscription The history and antiquities of the church and abby of Faversham, ... By John Lewis, A.M. [Canterbury: printed by James Abree?, 1727?]. ESTC No. T181476. Grub Street ID 218033.
  • Lewis, John. The history and antiquities of the abbey and church of Favresham in Kent; ... To which is added a collection of papers relating to the abbey, &c. ... [Canterbury?]: Printed [by James Abree?], 1727. ESTC No. T109194. Grub Street ID 162000.
  • Lewis, John. The history and antiquities of the abbey and church of Favresham in Kent; ... To which is added a collection of papers relating to the abbey, &c. ... [Canterbury?]: Printed [by James Abree?], 1727. ESTC No. T109195. Grub Street ID 162001.
  • A copy of verses humbly presented to all my worthy masters and mistresses, in the city of Canterbury and county of the same; wishing them health and happiness. By Thomas Hall, your loyal bellman. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree and W. Aylett, 1729. ESTC No. T171834. Grub Street ID 209365.
  • Bartlett, John. Poems on the following subjects: viz. Joseph sold into Egypt. His Interpreting Dreams: And selling Corn unto his Brethren, &c. His discovering himself to his Brethren; in a Dialogue between Joseph and Judah. Nathan sent to David. The complete history of Jonah. The history of Susanna and the two elders With general Observations. Upon What is Man? A Catalogue of Vertuous Women, mentioned in the New Testament. Time's Lecture to Man. By John Bartlett. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree and W. Aylett and sold by the author, 1732. ESTC No. T88048. Grub Street ID 308051.
  • Proposals for erecting an office of insurance from loss or damage by fire in the city of Canterbury. [Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1738]. ESTC No. T230280. Grub Street ID 249978.
  • Johnson, Isaac. Christianity no burdensome service, a sermon preach'd at the parish churches of Swale-Cliffe in Kent, and St. Paul's, Canterbury, on Sunday the 2d of September 1739. By Isaac Johnson, ... Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, and sold by W. Flackton. By J. Roberts, London, and W. Thurlbourn, bookseller, in Cambridge, 1739. ESTC No. N47242. Grub Street ID 31947.
  • Dixon, Sarah. Poems on several occasions. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, MDCCXL. [1740]. ESTC No. T42620. Grub Street ID 271387.
  • Canterbury. A new balad [sic]. Sung by Miss Oates. [Canterbury]: Printed at Canterbury [by James Abree, 1740?]. ESTC No. T196676. Grub Street ID 230018.
  • Kirkby, John. A demonstration from Christian principles that the present regulation of the ecclesiastical revenues in the Church of England, Is Directly Contrary and Fatally Destructive to the Design of Christianity. And has A Necessary Tendence to make A Corrupt and Immoral Clergy. By a Clergyman of the same Church. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, MDCCXLIII. [1743]. ESTC No. T20931. Grub Street ID 237968.
  • Catalogus librorum bibliothec? ecclesi? Christi Cantuariensis. Cantuari?: typis Jacobi Abree, MDCCXLIII. [1743]. ESTC No. T77704. Grub Street ID 299744.
  • Davis, Benjamin, school-master. Human liberty philosophically consider'd, explain'd, and remark'd, under the following heads, ... physical, religious, moral, and legal. ... By B.D. Canterbury. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree for the author. And to be had (only) of Benjamin Davis, school-master, in Burgate-street, Canterbury, [1745?]. ESTC No. N53988. Grub Street ID 37839.
  • A copy of the charter of the town and parish of Maidstone, in the county of Kent. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree. And sold at Mrs. Bailefs in Maidstone, (and no where else.), 1748. ESTC No. T191731. Grub Street ID 226454.
  • Bowtell, John. A sermon preach'd at Patrixbourne and Bridge. By John Bowtell, D.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1749. ESTC No. T172834. Grub Street ID 210215.
  • Bowtell, John. A sermon preach'd at Patrixbourne and Bridge. By John Bowtell, D.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, 1749. ESTC No. T172835. Grub Street ID 210216.
  • Bowtell, John. A sermon preach'd at Staplehurst, &c. By John Bowtell, D.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. T90253. Grub Street ID 310110.
  • Bowtell, John. A sermon preach'd at Patrixbourne and Bridge. By John Bowtell, D.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, MDCCLI. [1751]. ESTC No. T90254. Grub Street ID 310111.
  • Bowtell, John. A sermon preach'd at Staplehurst and Patrixbourne. By John Bowtell, D.D. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, MDCCLII. [1752]. ESTC No. T90255. Grub Street ID 310112.
  • J. B, Grocer in Canterbury.. The decisive question, &c. concerning eternal reprobation: wherein both sides of the question are impartially consider'd: and the different consequences arising from either side observ'd and remark'd. By J. B. grocer in Canterbury. Canterbury: printed by J. Abree, for the author: and sold at his shop in the Butter-Market; and by the booksellers. Also may be had of the newsmen, [1752]. ESTC No. T69217. Grub Street ID 293236.
  • The mariner's bulwark. A discourse deliver'd at Queenbrough, December the 8th, 1756. In commemoration of the deliverance of John Faulkner, esq; from the great storm in 1703. By John Wearg, ... Canterbury: Printed by J. Abree; and sold by W. and J. Flackton, 1757. ESTC No. N55418. Grub Street ID 38925.

Sold by James Abree

  • A sermon preach'd in the Parish church of Wingham, in Kent. On Sunday, July 2. 1727. Occasion'd by the Death of His late Majesty King George, Of Glorious Memory. By William Newton, Minister of the said Parish. London: printed for S. Billingsley at the Judge's Head in Chancery lane: and sold by J. Roberts at the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane, J. Billingsley under the Royal Exchange; and J. Abree at the Printing-Press in Canterbury, [1727]. ESTC No. T49191. Grub Street ID 277040.
  • Byrch, William. A sermon occasion'd by the death of Her late Most Gracious Majesty, Queen Caroline, preached in the parish-church of St. Mary the Virgin, in ... Dover, on ... December 4th, 1737. By William Byrch, ... London: printed for J. Roberts; and sold by J. Abree, in Canterbury, [1737?]. ESTC No. N25470. Grub Street ID 14822.
  • A compendious history of the Old and New Testament, extracted from the Holy Bible, and adapted to all capacities. ... adorned with 120 curious copper cuts, lively representing each history. ... London: printed for J. Hazard, and J. Wright; and sold by J. Leake, at Bath; Mrs. Lewis, at Bristol; J. Abree, at Canterbury; and J. Hildyard, at York, 1740. ESTC No. T165042. Grub Street ID 203309.
  • Dobel, Daniel. The examining Quaker, examined. Or, a farther vindication of water-baptism: by the doctrine and practice of the inspired apostles. And from the testimonies of several ... Quakers. Being an answer to Joseph Besse's Examination, of a discourse on water-baptism. ... By Daniel Dobel. Canterbury: printed for the author, and sold by him in Cranbrook, and J. Abree, 1745. ESTC No. T186431. Grub Street ID 222580.

Printed for James Abree

  • Terry, Isaac. Sixteen sermons upon select subjects. By the Reverend Isaac Terry, A. M. Late Rector of the United Parishes of St. Mary Bredman and St. Andrew in the City of Canterbury. Canterbury: printed for J. Abree and Tho. Smith, Booksellers. And sold by Samuel Birt, Bookseller, in Ave-Maria Lane, London, MDCCXLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T104939. Grub Street ID 158355.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by James Abree

  • A thanksgiving sermon for our double deliverance from popery and slavery, on the fifth of November; And on Occasion of the Happy Discovery of the late Traiterous Conspiracy against his Majesty's Person and Government, preached in the parish churches of Wingham and Stodmarsh in Kent, on Sunday, November the 4th, 1722. By William Newton, Minister of the said Parishes. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree, J. Silver in Sandwich, and A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster-Row, London, [1722]. ESTC No. T54195. Grub Street ID 281062.
  • Canterbury preserved, or, a plot discovered. Being a full and true relation of a most horrid, barbarous and bloody conspiracy, invented and carried on by a notorious Calydonian whisler, ... Fit to be bound up with The pilgrim's progress or Crumbs of comfort. The whole collected, revised and compared, by Jasper Jones, Esq;. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree; and by J. Roberts, London, [1726]. ESTC No. T186684. Grub Street ID 222824.
  • Lydal, Thomas. An attempt on the proper method for framing the man of business. By Thomas Lydal, ... Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree and W. Aylett, for the author, 1727. ESTC No. N64024. Grub Street ID 46096.
  • Packe, Christopher. A reply to Dr. Gray's three answers to a written paper, entitled, Mr. Worger's case. By Christopher Packe, M.D. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree in St. Margaret's; and by Mr. Burgess in Christ-Church Yard, [1727]. ESTC No. T1012. Grub Street ID 155083.
  • Packe, Christopher. Ankographia, sive convallium descriptio. In which are briefly but fully expounded the origine, course and insertion; extent, elevation and congruity of all the valleys and hills, brooks and rivers, ... of East-Kent. ... By Christopher Packe, M.D. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree, for the author, 1743. ESTC No. T97248. Grub Street ID 316680.
  • Jarvis, (Thomas). Tho. The farmers harvest companion. Containing, a table, shewing the area, or content of any cant, or piece of land, ... Also, a table, shewing the charge of workmanship of any quantity of land, ... Designed chiefly for the use of farmers and husbandmen in harvest; ... The second edition. With the addition of a table, shewing the value of any number of perches from one perch to forty; ... Very useful for those persons who buy or sell wood by the acre. ... By Tho. Jarvis. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree, 1750. ESTC No. T186502. Grub Street ID 222648.
  • The wreath. A collection of all the favourite new songs sung by the most eminent performers, at the theatres, Ranelagh, Vauxhall, &c. &c. &c. London: printed and sold by W. Reeve; H. Slater; A. Dodd; E. Cooke; and J. Abree, in Canterbury, 1752. ESTC No. N35749. Grub Street ID 23853.
  • Randall, Edward, of Cambridge. Randall's tables. Shewing, the true value of any quantity of corn, ... being very necessary for all farmers, maltsters, bakers, corn-chandlers, ... composed, and their use explained in divers examples, by Edward Randall. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree, 1752. ESTC No. T231654. Grub Street ID 257139.
  • Jarvis, (Thomas). Tho. The farmers harvest companion. Containing, a table, shewing the area, or content of any cant or piece of land, ... Also, a table, shewing the charge of workmanship of any quantity of land, ... Designed chiefly for the use of farmers and husbandmen in harvest; ... The third edition. With the addition of a table, shewing the value of any number of perches, from one perch to forty; ... Very useful for those persons who buy or sell wood by the acre. ... By Tho. Jarvis. Canterbury: printed and sold by J. Abree, 1760. ESTC No. T190695. Grub Street ID 225827.
  • Langhorne, William. The influence of good example, particularly in the clergy. A sermon preached at the visitation of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Sandwich, June the 18th, 1762. By William Langhorne, ... London: printed for and sold by Sam. Silver, at Sandwich; and by C. Hitch and L. Hawes, London; by Messrs. Abree, Flacton and Smith, in Canterbury; by Mr. Dalton, at Deal; Messrs. Newport and Burtenshaw, at Dover; by Mr. Toes, at Folkstone; Mr. Easley, at Feversham; Mr. Mercer, at Maidstone; Mr. Hogben, at Smarden; and by Mr. Baker, at Tunbridge, [1762]. ESTC No. N29242. Grub Street ID 18422.