Publications of Samuel Wilson

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 Samuel Wilson

  • Aprichard, Richard. [A] narrative of the proceedings of the General Synod, which met at Dungannon, 1739; relating to some scruples, against subscribing the Westminster Confession of faith, referr'd to their consideration. By Richard Aprichard. Belfast: printed by Samuel Wilson and James Magee, M,DCC,XXXIX. [1739]. ESTC No. T124104. Grub Street ID 174362.

Author

  • Wilson, Samuel. God's compassion to an ungrateful people. Consider'd in a sermon The Substance of which was Preach'd at The Rev. Mr. Ridgley's meeting-place near Thames-Street, April the Sixth, 1732. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, at the King's-Arms, and John Oswald, at the Rose and Crown, in Little-Britain; and Richard Hett, at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry, M.DCC.XXXII. [1732]. ESTC No. T59326. Grub Street ID 285348.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A sermon occasioned by the death of Mr. Edw. Chamberlin, late master of the charity-school in Shakespear's walk. Preached to the society who support it, March the 19th, 1732. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, at the King's-Arms, John Oswald, at the Rose and Crown, in Little-Britain; and Richard Hett, at the Bible and Crown, in the Poultry, [1732]. ESTC No. T66496. Grub Street ID 291245.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The blessing of a gospel ministry; consider'd in a sermon preach'd at the late Reverend Mr. Daniel Wilcox's meeting place, in Monkwell-Street, May 20, 1733. By Samuel Wilson. ... London: printed for Aaron Ward; and H. Whitridge, 1733. ESTC No. N62650. Grub Street ID 44947.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The blessing of a gospel ministry; consider'd in a sermon preach'd at the late Reverend Mr. Daniel Wilcox's meeting place, in Monkwell-Street, May 20, 1733. By Samuel Wilson. ... London: printed for Aaron Ward; and H. Whitridge, 1733. ESTC No. T175867. Grub Street ID 212937.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A sermon preached to the Societies for reformation of manners, at Salters-Hall; on Monday, July the 8th, 1734. By Samuel Wilson. ... London: printed for Eman. Matthews, 1734. ESTC No. N37472. Grub Street ID 25428.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A sermon occasioned by the death of the late Reverend Mr. William Arnold, who departed this life, May 17th, 1734. in the forty-third year of his age. Preached May 26. Publish'd at the Request of the Church. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, at the King's Arms in Little Britain, [1734]. ESTC No. T66497. Grub Street ID 291246.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Sermons on the following subjects; I. Saints Imperfect whilst on Earth. II, III, IV, V, VI. Saints Compleat in Glory. Vii, Viii. The Believer Sealed. IX. The Saint's Extremity God's Opportunity. With an abstract of Consul Dean's Narrative, relating to his suffering Shipwreck, and wonderful Preservation, in the Year 1710. By Samuel Wilson. Published at the Request of the Church under his Care. London: printed, and sold by Aaron Ward, at the King's-Arms in Little-Britain; and Joseph Fisher, against Tom's Coffee-House in Cornhill, 1735. ESTC No. T59704. Grub Street ID 285699.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The duties of a pastor and deacons: recommended in a sermon preach'd at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Thomas Flower, Jun. as pastor; and Mr. T. Kenward and Mr. S. Stinton, as deacons: April the xxixth, MDCCXXXVI. At the Meeting-Place in Unicorn-Yard, Tooly-Street. By Samuel Wilson. Published at their Joint Request. London: printed by John Wilson, in Gracechurch-Street: and sold by Aaron Ward, in Little-Britain, [1736]. ESTC No. T75048. Grub Street ID 297837.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Popular tumults religiously improv'd: in a sermon Occasioned by the Late disorders. Preach'd in Goodmans-Fields, August 1. 1736. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed by J. Wilson, in Gracechurch-Street: and sold by E. Nutt, at the Royal-Exchange; and A. Dodd, without Temple-Bar, [1736]. ESTC No. T17481. Grub Street ID 211882.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Industry and liberality recommended: a sermon preach'd at the Old Jewry, March 7th, 1738-9. to the Society for Relief of the Widows and Orphans of Dissenting Ministers. By Samuel Wilson. Publish'd at the Request of the Managers of that Society. London: printed by John Wilson, at the Turk's-Head in Grace-Church-Street: and sold by Aaron Ward, in Little-Britain; and Richard Hett, in the Poultry, [1739]. ESTC No. T71187. Grub Street ID 294766.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The humble saint under an awful rod; with some remarks on the hand of God in the late prevailing fever. A sermon occasioned by the decease of Mr. Nathaniel Ward. Who departed this life November the 17th, 1741. in the twenty-ninth year of his age. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, at the King's-Arms in Little-Britain; and James Brackstone, at the Globe in Cornhill, MDCCXLI. [1741]. ESTC No. T191008. Grub Street ID 226055.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The abuse of mercy stated and reproved. In a sermon preach'd on the 5th of March, 1741. at a monthly exercise, at the Revd. Mr. Goodwin's meeting-place, in Little More-Fields. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed by John Wilson, and sold by Aaron Ward; and James Brackstone, 1741. ESTC No. T76308. Grub Street ID 298793.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A sermon occasioned by the much lamented death of the Rev. Mr. John Needham ... By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, 1742. ESTC No. T173157. Grub Street ID 210448.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A sinner justified by the righteousness of Christ. A sermon preach'd ... August the 14th, 1743. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward; John Oswald; and James Buckland, 1743. ESTC No. N46601. Grub Street ID 31427.
  • Wilson, Samuel. God the portion of his people. A sermon occasioned by the death of Mrs. Rebekah Stennett, Late Wife of The Reverend Mr. Joseph Stennett, Who departed this Life June 24, 1744. Preached In Little-Wild-Street. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, in Little Britain; John Oswald, in the Poultry; and James Buckland, in Pater-Noster-Row, MDCCXLIV. [1744]. ESTC No. T1904. Grub Street ID 225558.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The unchangeableness of God's covenant, the saints security. A sermon occasioned by the decease of the Rev. Mr. William Coombs, who departed this life April the 1st, 1744. Preached at Limehouse, April the 8th. By Samuel Wilson. London: sold by John Oswald; and James Buckland, 1744. ESTC No. T74260. Grub Street ID 297315.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Christ the great propitiation. A sermon preached at the evening lecture in Silver-Street, September 14, 1746. ... To which are added, some remarks on a pamphlet, entitled, A vindication of the Rev. Mr. Foster's Account of the late Earl of Kilmarnock. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward; John Oswald; James Buckland; and H. Whitridge, 1746. ESTC No. N27949. Grub Street ID 17169.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Christ the great propitiation. A sermon preached at the evening lecture in Silver-Street, September 14, 1746. ... To which are added, some remarks on a pamphlet, entitled, A vindication of the Rev. Mr. Foster's Account of the late Earl of Kilmarnock. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward; John Oswald; James Buckland; and H. Whitridge, 1746. ESTC No. T59325. Grub Street ID 285347.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The deity and satisfaction of Christ asserted. Being an answer To the Second Part of an Anonymous Pamphlet, intitled, Causa Dei contra Novatores; or, God ever propitious to his People. In a letter to the author. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for Aaron Ward, at the King's-Arms in Little-Britain; John Oswald in the Poultry; James Buckland in Pater-Noster-Row; and H. Whitridge at the Royal Exchange, 1747. ESTC No. T11800. Grub Street ID 169567.
  • Wilson, Samuel. The faithful servant looking out for the joy of his lord. A sermon occasion'd by the death of the Reverend George Braithwaite, A.M. preach'd at Devonshire-Square, on July the 24th, 1748. ... By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for J. Ward; and G. Keith, 1748. ESTC No. T74259. Grub Street ID 297313.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture manual: or a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. ... By Samuel Wilson. London: printed in the year, 1750. ESTC No. T171977. Grub Street ID 209471.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture manual: or a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Design'd for the Use of all, who would answer a good Conscience towards God; and give a Reason of their Faith and Practice with Meekness and Fear. By Samuel Wilson. London: printed for G. Keith at Mercers-Chapel, Cheapside; J. Ward in Cornhill; J. Robinson at St. Saviour's Dock, Southwark; and E. Gardiner in Lombard-Street, M.DCC.L. [1750]. ESTC No. T73281. Grub Street ID 296610.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Sermons on various subjects and occasions, By the late Reverend Mr. Samuel Wilson: two of which were published in his life-time, and the rest taken from his own manuscripts. To which is prefixed a short account of his character, in an oration delivered at his interment, by Joseph Stennett. London: printed for G. Keith, at Mercer's Chapel in Cheapside; and J. Ward, over-against the Royal-Exchange, M.DCC.LIII. [1753]. ESTC No. T180901. Grub Street ID 217529.
  • Wilson, Samuel. Llaw-Lyfr ysgrythyrawl neu ddarlyniad eglur o'r ordinhad o fedydd. Wedi ei amcanu er budd i bawb, a ddymunent atteb Cydwybod dda tu ag at Dduw; A rhoddi 'rheswm dros eu Ffydd ai Hymarferiad, gydag aeddfwynder ac ofn. O waith y parchedig Mr. Samuel Wilson, Wedi ei Gyfiaithu or 4dd Argraphiad, or Saesnaeg. [Bristol]: Argraphedig ym Mristo gan E. Ffalley, yn y Flwyddyn, 1756. ESTC No. T223246. Grub Street ID 245918.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A Scripture manual: or A plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Design'd for the use of all, who would answer a good conscience towards God; and give a reason of their faith and practice with meekness and fear. [One line from John] By Samuel Wilson. [Philadelphia]: London: printed in the year M.DCC.L. Philadelphia: re-printed by Anthony Armbruster, in Moravian Alley, 1764. ESTC No. W39520. Grub Street ID 350197.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture manual: or, a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Designed for the Use of all, who would answer a good Conscience towards God; and give a Reason of their Faith and Practice with Meekness and Fear. By the Rev. Samuel Wilson. The third edition. To which are added, an account of the Rev. J. Rutherford's convictions and exercises of mind respecting the invalidity of infant-baptism. And the testimonies of learned Pædobaptists. Exeter: printed by John Spencer, in Fore-Street, M.DCC.LXIX. [1769]. ESTC No. T180885. Grub Street ID 217512.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A Scripture manual: or, A plain representation of the ordinance of baptism: design'd for the use of all who would answer a good conscience towards God; and give a reason of their faith and practice with meekness and fear. [One line from John] By Samuel Wilson. [Newport, R.I.]: London: printed. Newport, Rhode-Island: reprinted and sold by S. Southwick, in Queen-Street, 1772. ESTC No. W22097. Grub Street ID 331909.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture-Manual: or, a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Designed for the Use of all, who would answer a good Conscience towards God; and give a Reason of their Faith and Practice with Meekness and Fear. By Samuel Wilson. Bristol: printed and sold by M. Ward, in Corn-Street, [1776]. ESTC No. T68209. Grub Street ID 292526.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture-Manual: or, a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Deigned for the use of all, who would answer a good conscience towards God; and give a reason of their faith and practice with meekness and fear. By Samuel Wilson. Bristol: printed by W. Pine. Sold by T. Evans, in Broadmead, [1780?]. ESTC No. T166135. Grub Street ID 204375.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture-Manual: or, a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Designed for the Use of all, who would answer a good Conscience towards God; and give a Reason of their Faith and Practice with Meckness and Fear. By Samuel Wilson. Revised by John Rippon. London: printed by T. Wilkins, No. 45, Cow-Lane, Snow-Hill, MDCCLXXXV [1785]. ESTC No. T103747. Grub Street ID 157355.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A Scripture-manuel [sic]: or, A plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Designed for the use of all, who would answer a good conscience towards God, and give a reason of their faith and practice with meekness and fear. [One line from John] By Samuel Wilson. [Elizabethtown, N.J.]: London: printed. Elizabeth-Town: reprinted by Shepard Kollock, 1793. ESTC No. W2952. Grub Street ID 339789.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A Scripture-manual: or A plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. Designed for the use of all, who would answer a good conscience towards God; and give a reason of their faith and practice with meekness and fear. By Samuel Wilson. To which is added, Rutherford's exercises of mind respecting the invalidity of infant baptism--and, testimonies of divers learned Paedobaptists in favor of believers baptism. [One line from John]. Philadelphia: Printed by Lang & Ustick, 1795. ESTC No. W17115. Grub Street ID 326636.
  • Wilson, Samuel. A scripture-manual: or, a plain representation of the ordinance of baptism. ... By Samuel Wilson. A new edition, revised by Abraham Booth. To which are subjoined, various extracts from learned Pædobaptist authors. London: printed for W. Button, 1797. ESTC No. T181253. Grub Street ID 217837.