Publications of James Bettenham

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 Bettenham

  • Wright, S. The occasional preacher: containing nine sermons on several subjects. With other occasional discourses. By Samuel Wright, D.D. London: printed by J. Bettenham. 1743. And are to be sold by R. Hett at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry, 1743. ESTC No. T41895. Grub Street ID 270696.
  • Berriman, William. The authority of the civil powers in matters of religion asserted and vindicated. A sermon preached before the ... Lord Mayor, the Court of Aldermen, ... in the parish church of St. Lawrence Jewry, on Saturday, Sept, 29, 1722. ... By William Berriman, ... London: printed by J. Bettenham for T. Payne, 1722. ESTC No. N51170. Grub Street ID 35169.
  • Charleton, Walter. Chorea Gigantum: or, the most famous antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, standing on Salisbury-Plain, restored to the Danes. By Walter Charleton, M.D. and Physician in Ordinary to His Majesty. London: printed [by James Bettenham?] for D. Browne junior, at the Black-Swan without Temple-Bar, and J. Woodman and D. Lyon, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden, M.DCC.XXV. [1725]. ESTC No. T30634. Grub Street ID 261485.
  • Blackwall, Anthony. The sacred classics defended and illustrated: or, an essay humbly offer'd towards proving the purity, propriety, and true eloquence of the writers of the New Testament. In two parts. In the First of which Those Divine Writers are vindicated against the Charge of barbarous Language, false Greek, and Solecisms. In the Second is shewn, That all the Excellencies of Style, and sublime Beauties of Language and genuine Eloquence do abound in the Sacred Writers of the New Testament. With An Account of their Style and Character, and a Representation of their Superiority, in several Instances, to the best classics of Greece and Rome. To which are subjoin'd proper Indexes. By A. Blackwall, M.A. London: printed by J. Bettenham, for C. Rivington, at the Bible and Crown in St. Paul's Churchyard, and W. Cantrell bookseller in Derby, M,DCC,XXV. [1725]. ESTC No. T55733. Grub Street ID 282291.
  • Morgan, J. A complete history of Algiers. To which is prefixed, an epitome of the general history of Barbary, from the earliest times: interspersed with many curious passages and remarks, not touched on by any writer whatever. By J. Morgan. London: printed by J. Bettenham; for A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, at the Red-Lion in Pater-Noster-Row, M.DCC.XXXI. [1731]. ESTC No. T151063. Grub Street ID 196589.
  • Brett, Thomas. Some remarks on Dr. Waterland's Review of the doctrine of the Eucharist, &c. With Regard to the seeming Difference between Him and Mr. Johnson's, concerning the Sacrifice and some other Points. In Defence of myself and some others who maintained Mr. Johnson's Opinion in our late Answers to the plain account, &c. By Tho. Brett, LL.D. London: printed by James Bettenham; and sold by A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, at the Red-Lion in Pater-Noster-Row, M.DCC.XXXVIII. [1738]. ESTC No. T49365. Grub Street ID 277189.
  • The British Apollo: in three volumes. Containing two thousand answers to curious questions in most arts and sciences, Serious, Comical, and Humorous; approved of by many of the most learned and ingenious of both universities, and of the Royal society. Perform'd by a society of gentlemen. London: printed by James Bettenham for Charles Hitch, at the Red Lion, in Pater-Noster-Row, MDCCXL. [1740]. ESTC No. N32741. Grub Street ID 21304.
  • Lardner, Nathaniel. The credibility of the Gospel history, part I. or, the facts occasionally mentioned in the New Testament confirmed by passages of ancient authors, Who were contemporary with our Saviour, or his Apostles, or lived near their Time. With an appendix concerning the time of Herod's death. Vol. I. The third edition. By Nathaniel Lardner. London: sold by John Gray at the Cross-Keys in the Poultry, and Timothy Sanders in Little Britain. [Printed by James Bettenham], M.DCC.XLI. [1741]. ESTC No. T147921. Grub Street ID 194416.
  • Orrery, Roger Boyle. A collection of the state letters of the Right Honourable Roger Boyle, The first Earl of Orrery, Lord President of Munster in Ireland. Containing a series of correspondence between the duke of Ormonde and his Lordship, from the Restoration to the year 1668. Together with Some other Letters and Pieces, of a different kind; Particularly, The life of the Earl of Orrery, by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Morrice, his Lordship's Chaplain. London: printed by James Bettenham: and sold by Charles Hitch, at the Red Lion in Pater-Noster Row, MDCCXLII. [1742]. ESTC No. N14784. Grub Street ID 4548.
  • Emerson, William. The doctrine of fluxions: not only explaining the elements thereof, but also its application and use in the several parts of mathematics and natural philosophy. London: printed by J. Bettenham: and sold by W. Innys, at the West End of St. Paul's, MDCCXLIII. [1743]. ESTC No. N2167. Grub Street ID 11030.
  • Pascal, Blaise. The life of Mr. Paschal, with his letters relating to the Jesuits. In two volumes. Translated into English by W. A. Vol. I. London: printed by James Bettenham, for the author, MDCCXLIV. [1744]. ESTC No. N11174. Grub Street ID 1168.
  • Wood, John. A dissertation upon the orders of columns, and their appendages; the whole constituting the Orders of Architecture: Interspersed with A brief Account of the various Kinds of intercolumnation Observed by the Antients: and Illustrated with proper Draughts from three and Twenty Copper Plates Engraved by Mr. Paul Fourdrinier. Compiled For the Use of Artificers in the Building Trades. By John Wood, Architect. London: printed by James Bettenham, in the year MDCCL: and sold by J. Leake at Bath, 1750. ESTC No. T59646. Grub Street ID 285649.
  • Elphinston, James. A collection of poems, from the best authors: adapted to every age, but peculiarly designed to form the taste of youth. By James Elphinston. London: printed by James Bettenham; and sold by M. Richardson, in Paternoster-Row; J. Graham, in the Strand; and W. Drummond, Edinburgh, MDCCLXIV. [1764]. ESTC No. T78176. Grub Street ID 300058.

Sold by James Bettenham

  • Fairfax, Blackerby. Oratio apologetica pro re herbaria. Contra medicos mathematicos. Habita Hampstadii, ... = A speech made at Hampstead at the conclusion of the last year's botanick meetings of the Worshipful Company of London Apothecaries. Wherein is given the idea of vegetation, ... By Blackerby Fairfax, ... London: printed and sold by James Bettenham, 1718. ESTC No. T139386. Grub Street ID 187235.
  • Wright, S. The occasional preacher. Number III. Of going in the way of understanding, with holy and good men. London: printed and sold by J. Bettenham in St. John's Lane near Hicks's-Hall; and J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, MDCCXLI. [1741]. ESTC No. T41898. Grub Street ID 270698.

Printed for James Bettenham

  • Melvil, Thomas. A sermon preach'd at the Lent-Assizes holden at Chelmsford, in the county of Essex, on Thursday, March 5, 1718/19. Before the Honourable Mr. Baron Price. By Thomas Melvil, ... London: printed for J. Bettenham and T. Bickerton, 1719. ESTC No. N22947. Grub Street ID 12304.
  • Freind, John. A letter to the learned Dr. Woodward. By Dr. Byfielde. London: printed for James Bettenham, at the Crown in Pater-Noster-Row, 1719. ESTC No. N19574. Grub Street ID 8996.
  • Sherlock, Thomas. The proceedings of the vice-chancellor and university of Cambridge against Dr. Bentley, stated and vindicated. In a letter to a noble peer. London: printed for James Bettenham at the Crown in Pater-Noster-Row, [1719]. ESTC No. T109098. Grub Street ID 161914.
  • The honour of episcopacy. Wherein first, the mission of bishops is vindicated and asserted, ... Secondly, the fanatical conventicles of Great Britain and Ireland are consider'd, ... London: printed for J. Bettenham, 1719. ESTC No. N37915. Grub Street ID 25796.
  • Anderson, James. Royal genealogies: or, the genealogical tables of emperors, kings and princes, from Adam to these times; in two parts. Part I. Begins with a chronological history of the world, from the Beginning of Time to the Christian Era, and then the Genealogies of the earliest great Families and most ancient Sovereigns of Asia, Europe, Africa and America, down to Charlemain, and many of 'em down to these Times. Part II. begins with the grand revolution of Charlemain, and carries on the Royal and Princely Genealogies of Europe down to these Times; concluding with those of the Britannic Isles. See a more particular Account in the Preface and in the Contents of the Tables. By James Anderson, D.D. London: printed for the author by James Bettenham: and sold by E. Symon and J. Clarke in Cornhill; R. Ford in the Poultry; A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, J. Osborn and T. Longman in Pater-Noster Row; R. Gosling in Fleetstreet; A. Millar, and N. Prevost in the Strand; T. Green at Charing-Cross; J. Jackson in Pall-Mall; and J. Stagg in Westminster-Hall, M,DCC,XXXII. [1732]. ESTC No. T133816. Grub Street ID 182533.

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

  • Pandora's box: a satyr against snuff. London: printed and sold by J. Bettenham, 1718. ESTC No. N11955. Grub Street ID 1958.