Publications of John Bell

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 John Bell

  • Gabriel, (Robert Burd). R. B. Facts relating to the Reverend Dr. White's Bampton lectures. By R. B. Gabriel, ... London: printed by John Bell; and sold by Fletcher at Oxford; Merrill, at Cambridge; Meyler, at Bath; Woolmer, at Exeter; and Smart and Cowslade, Reading, [1790?]. ESTC No. T139907. Grub Street ID 187729.

Author

  • Bell, John. The general and particular principles of animal electricity and magnetism, &c. in which are found Dr. Bell's secrets and practice, AS Delivered To His Pupils In Paris, London, Dublin, Bristol, Glocester, Worcester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Shrewsbury, Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, &c. &c. Shewing how to Magnetise and Cure different Diseases; to produce Crises, as well as Somnambulism, or Sleep-Walking; and in that State of Sleep to make a Person eat, drink, walk, sing and play upon any Instruments they are used to, &c. to make Apparatus and other Accessaries to produce Magnetical Facts; also to Magnetise Rivers, Rooms, Trees, and other Bodies, animate and inanimate; to raise the Arms, Legs of a Person awake, and to make him rise from his Chair; to raise the Arm of a Person absent from one Room to another; also to treat him at a Distance. All the New Experiments and Phenomena are explained by Monsieur le Docteur Bell, Professor of that Science, And Member of the Philosophical Harmon. [London]: Printed for the author. - 1792. Entered In Stationers Hall, 1792. ESTC No. T10093. Grub Street ID 154848.
  • Bell, John. Londons remembrancer: or, A true accompt of every particular weeks christnings and mortality in all the years of pestilence within the cognizance of the bills of mortality being XVIII years. Taken out of the register of the Company of Parish Clerks of London, &c. Together with several observations on the said years, and some of their precedent and subsequent years. Published for general satisfaction, and for prevention of false papers. By John Bell clerk to the said Company. London: printed and are to be sold by E. Cotes living in Aldersgate street, printer to the Company of Parish Clerks, 1665. ESTC No. R24198. Grub Street ID 108002.
  • Bell, John. Piety promoted, in a collection of dying sayings of divers of the people called Quakers: with some account of their services, Sufferings and Virtuous Lives. The seventh part. By John Bell. London: printed and sold by T. Sowle Raylton and Luke Hinde, at the Bible in George-Yard, Lombard-Street, 1740. ESTC No. T137236. Grub Street ID 185290.
  • Bell, John. An epistle of tender advice, caution, and warning, to Friends; carefully to mind the light of Jesus Christ, ... By John Bell. London: printed and sold by T. Sowle Raylton and L. Hinde, 1743. ESTC No. T14231. Grub Street ID 189712.
  • Bell, John. Religion and loyalty recommended, in a sermon preached at the assizes held at Carlisle; ... August 2, 1761. By the Reverend John Bell, ... London: printed and sold by J. and W. Oliver; D. Matthews in Cockermouth, and A. Campbell in Carlisle, 1761. ESTC No. N35022. Grub Street ID 23308.
  • Bell, John. Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia, to diverse parts of Asia. ... By John Bell, ... Glasgow: printed for the author by Robert and Andrew Foulis M.DCC.LXIII. Sold by R. & A. Foulis, and A. Stalker; Kincaid & Bell at Edinburgh; A. Miller, J. Nourse, T. Becket & P. A. de Hondt, and C. Henderson in London; J. Leake, and J. Frederick at Bath; and T. Cadell at Bristol, [1763]. ESTC No. T99651. Grub Street ID 318743.
  • Bell, John. Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia, to diverse parts of Asia. Containing, I. A journey to Ispahan in Persia, in the years 1715, 1716, 1717, and 1718. II. A journey to Pekin in China, through Siberia, in the Years 1719, 1720, 1721. With a map of the Author's two routes between Mosco and Pekin: To which is added, a translation of the Journal of Mr. de Lange, Resident of Russia at the court of Pekin, in the years 1721 and 1722. III. A journey from Mosco to Derbent in Persia, in the year 1722. IV. A journey from St. Petersburg to Constantinople, in the years 1737 and 1738. By John Bell, Esq; (gentleman in several Embassies to the Emperors of China, Persia, &c.) In two volumes. Vol. I. Dublin: printed for Robert Bell, Bookseller and Auctionier, in Stephen-Street, opposite Aungier-Street, M,DCC,LXIV. [1764]. ESTC No. T99652. Grub Street ID 318744.
  • Bell, John. Unbelief the capital sin of Christians. A sermon preached at the assizes held at Carlisle; before the honourable Sir Henry Gould, Knight, and the honourable Sir Joseph Yates, Knight. August 7th, 1768. By the Reverend John Bell, Vicar of Bridekirk. Whitehaven: printed and sold by Mary Sheperd; D. Matthews in Cockermouth, and A. Campbell in Carlisle, MDCCLXVIII. [1768]. ESTC No. T194643. Grub Street ID 228537.
  • Bell, John. The construction of prose, in theory and practice: or, an introduction to speaking and writing English, ... Book second. By J. Bell, ... Glasgow: printed by R. and A. Foulis for the author, 1769. ESTC No. T137413. Grub Street ID 185388.
  • Bell, John. The construction of verse, in theory and practice: or, the art of poetry, or poetical oratory made easy. Book III. or appendix to Book II. By J. Bell, ... Glasgow: printed [by R. and A. Foulis] in the year, 1769. ESTC No. T137414. Grub Street ID 185389.
  • Bell, John. A concise and comprehensive system of English grammar. In two books. Designed for the use of schools and private families. By J. Bell, ... Glasgow: printed by R. and A. Foulis for the author, 1769. ESTC No. T141374. Grub Street ID 188913.
  • Bell, John. Shakespeare's works, particularly Bell's edition, having been universally purchased, and generally approved, ... the proprietor now proposes to republish Shakespeare in single plays, at six-pence each, beginning on Saturday the 30th of September, with Macbeth, and continue by one play every succeeding Saturday, ... London: printed for J. Bell, and C. Etherington, at York, and may be had of all the booksellers and newsmen in town and country, [1775?]. ESTC No. T207671. Grub Street ID 236807.
  • Bell, John. The wanderer; or, Edward to Eleonora. A poem. [London]: Printed for G. Kearsley, No. 46, Fleet-street, 1785. ESTC No. N26080. Grub Street ID 15450.
  • Bell, John. An address to the parishioners of Bridekirk. By John Bell, ... Whitehaven: printed and sold by J. Ware & Son, and by J. Walker, Cockermouth, 1787. ESTC No. T188580. Grub Street ID 224363.
  • Bell, John. New system of the world, and the laws of motion; in which are explained animal electricity and magnetism, both natural and artificial. No.I. By the Rev. John Bell, Member of the Philosophical Harmonic Society at Paris, Fellow Correspondent to M. Le Court de Geblin's Museum; and the only person authorised to teach and practise that Science in England. London: sold by the author, in Golden Square, 1788. ESTC No. T101281. Grub Street ID 155160.
  • Bell, John. Travels from St. Petersburgh in Russia, to various parts of Asia. Illustrated with Maps. In two volumes. By John Bell, of Antermony. Volume First. Edinburgh: printed for William Creech, and sold by Geo. Robinsons and Co. London, MDCCLXXXVIII. [1788]. ESTC No. T99654. Grub Street ID 318746.
  • Bell, John. Animal electricity and magnetism; or the happy communication of the vital fluid, throughout the human body, ...is opened by Mr. Bell, at the Exhibition Room, William-street. Dublin: printed by R. Butler, 1788. ESTC No. N66974. Grub Street ID 48616.
  • Bell, John. New system of the world, and the laws of motion; in which are explained animal electricity and magnetism, both natural and artificial. To which is prefixed, a preliminary discourse, relative to animal electricity and magnetism. By the Rev. John Bell, ... Dublin: printed for, and to be had of the author, also of Mr. Butler, and other booksellers, 1789. ESTC No. T217349. Grub Street ID 242388.
  • Bell, John. Animal electricity, and magnetism, &c. demonstrated after the laws of nature; ... In two parts. By the Rev. John Bell, ... Dublin: printed by John Rea, for the author, 1789. ESTC No. N66973. Grub Street ID 48615.
  • Bell, John. Bell's New Pantheon; or, historical dictionary of the gods, demi-gods, heroes, and fabulous personages of antiquity: Also, of the Images and Idols Adored in the Pagan World; Together with their Temples, Priests, Altars, Oracles, Fasts, Festivals, Games, &c. As well as Descriptions of their Figures, Representations, and Symbols, Collected from Statues, Pictures, Coins, and other Remains of the Ancients. The whole Designed to Facilitate the Study of Mythology, History, Poetry, Painting, Statuary, Medals, &c. &c. And Compiled from the Best Authorities. Richly Embellished with Characteristic Prints. In Two Volumes. Vol. II. London: printed by and for J. Bell, Bookseller to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at the British Library, Strand, M.DCC.XC. [1790]. ESTC No. T99549. Grub Street ID 318651.
  • Bell, John. Animal electricity and magnetism demonstrated, by the laws of nature, with new ideas upon matter and motion. By the Reverend Doctor Bell, member of the Philosophical, Harmonic Society at Paris, fellow correspondent to M. le Court de Geblin's museum. To which is prefixed, a introductory discourse on the laws of motion, in which are explained, animal electricity and magnetism, both natural and artificial. Lancaster [Pa.]: Printed by J. Bailey and W. Dickson, in Kingstreet, MDCCXCII. [1792]. ESTC No. W1245. Grub Street ID 321721.