Publications of W. H.

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 W. H.

  • A new litany very proper to be read by a merry society over a glass of good liquor. Dubiln [sic]: printed by W. H., 1722. ESTC No. N10087. Grub Street ID 99.

Printed for W. H.

  • Popple, Miles. The duties required in the observance of a day of public humiliation. Two sermons, preached at Welton, in the county of York, on Feb. 28, 1794, and Feb. 25, 1795, being the days appointed for a general fast: to which is annexed, a dissertation from the Looker on upon the rights of man, with remarks. By M. Popple, ... Cambridge: printed by Benj. Flower; for W. H. Lunn; T. Wilson, York; J. Rawson, Hull; and J. Debrett, London, 1795. ESTC No. N18080. Grub Street ID 7553.

Author

  • H., W.. The misterie of Megiddo, or First encounter of Armageddon: wherin the late purpose and preparation, horrible and huge, of Antichrist and his adherents, against her most excellent Maiestie, our most prudent Deborah, and the whole church and children of God, is briefly noted. Together with the successe that it hath sorted vnto by the iustice and mercie of the Almighty: his iustice toward them, his mercie toward vs, with the hope that is to be conceiued of Antichrists final fall in short time. London: imprinted by I. Windet, dvvelling at Paules wharfe, at the signe of the Crosse-keyes, 1589. ESTC No. S92807. Grub Street ID 151471.
  • H., W.. Arguments proving the jurisdiction used by the president and counsell in the marches of Wales, over the counties of Glouc., Worcester, Hereford, and Salop to be illegall, and injurious, and a meere incroachment beyond their appointed limits and the proofe is like a threefold cord, not easily broken, viz. [brace] by statutes, by law bookes, by records : whereunto is added a catalogue of part of the manifold grievances to which his majesties subjects are lyable, who live within that jurisdiction. London: Printed for Thomas Wakley, 1641. ESTC No. R41259. Grub Street ID 122930.
  • H., W.. A diurnall of sea designes, which is as strange as true. Relating vvhat great preparations many mighty forraigne princes have now upon the ocean, no man knowing for what intent or purpose. Wherein it may be perceived that the case is pittifull when so many dangers are floating about our ears befor wee can heare of them. Written for a warning, that though feares and jealousies be necessarie; yet it is more necessary to lay them in their right places. Not unprinted betwixt Yorke and Beverley, by W. H. London: printed for W. S., 1642. ESTC No. R22143. Grub Street ID 95583.
  • H., W.. A relation of the good successe of the Parliaments forces under the command of Generall Lesly, the Earl of Manchester, and the Lord Fairfax, against the forces commanded by Prince Rupert and the Earl of Newcastle, on Hesham-Moore, on Tuesday July 2. 1644. Sent by way of letter from a captain there present, to a friend in London. [Cambridge]: Printed by W. F., 1644. ESTC No. R11691. Grub Street ID 59947.
  • H., W.. A more perfect and particular relation of the late great victorie in Scotland obtained over Montrosse and the rebels there, by the forces under the command of Lieutenant-Generall David Lesley, certified by an expresse the 16. of this instant from Hadington. Together with a list of the chiefe men of note taken prisoners and kild in the battell, and after in the pursuit. To which is likewise added a letter written from Master Balsame minister at Berwick, and dated the 17. of Septemb. 1645. to a minister in London concerning the said victory. Published by authority. London: printed by M.B. for Robert Bostock at the Kings head in Pauls Churchyard, 25. Sep. 1645. ESTC No. R200290. Grub Street ID 77834.
  • H., W.. A discourse concerning the queries proposed by the House of Commons to the Assembly of Divines; about the divine right of Church Government in answer to two main questions. First, whether is be expedient to the State and Church, that the Assembly of Divines should answer those questions yea or no? Secondly, in case to be expedient; how they should be answered satisfactorily both to the conscionable and unconscionable disputer of the matter. Shewing first, the necessity of giving an answerr [sic]. Secondly, some necessary requisites to make that answer satisfactory to all, and without exception. Written for the private satisfaction of a friend, anno Dom. 1646. And now published for more common use, by an unpartiall lover of truth and peace. London: printed for Richard Wodenothe at the signe of the Star neer Saint Peters Church in Cornhill, 1648. ESTC No. R204608. Grub Street ID 81529.
  • H., W.. A perfect and most usefull table to compute the year of our Lord, with the several years of the Kings reigns, beginning with Henry the eight, which is 150 years since, whereby the true date of any deed since that time may presently be found out with much facility, and undoubted certainty. Also, to know the county dayes for each county in England for this year, and which hereby may be known for ever, because they are and must be constantly kept that day month in each county, London onely excepted, as underneath appears. London: printed for the use of W.H. the author, and are to be sold by Master Michell in Westminster-hall, and by Tobias Jorden in Gloucester, 1656. ESTC No. R211821. Grub Street ID 87572.
  • H., W.. A congratulation to our newly restored Parliament of the Common-vvealth of England. London: printed by J.T., in the year 1659. ESTC No. R211217. Grub Street ID 87144.
  • H., W.. A changling no company for lovers of loyaltie, or the subjects lesson in poynt of sacred submission to, and humble complyance with God and the King; wherein confusion is reduced to order, misery to mercy; reproach and shame to freedom and honour. London: printed by M. Simmons, for Thomas Parkhurst, and are to be sold at the three Crowns, at the lower end of Cheapside, 1660. ESTC No. R208372. Grub Street ID 84626.
  • H., W.. A letter concerning the test, and persecution for conscience. To an honourable member of the House of Lords. Published with allowance. London: printed for Matthew Turner at the Lamb in High-Holborn, 1687. ESTC No. R6528. Grub Street ID 126869.
  • H., W.. Exaltatio cleri. Or, the honour and usefulness of the clergy vindicated, against all the scandalous efforts of late scurrilous wits. Per W. H. ... London: printed for the author, in the year, 1701. ESTC No. N8748. Grub Street ID 53654.
  • H., W.. Thura Britannica. A congratulatory poem to her sacred majesty Queen Anne and the whole realm, ... By W. H. London: printed for Benj. Tooke, 1702. ESTC No. T201647. Grub Street ID 232870.
  • H., W.. The fate of traytors. A poem upon the rebellion. ... London: printed for E. Curll, 1716. ESTC No. T114984. Grub Street ID 166761.
  • H., W.. The rigid & unmerciful creditor arraign'd and found guilty, or the Imprisonment of Insolvent Debtors prov'd to be an Abominable sin in the Sight of God. Whereunto is Added, the several Black Aggravations of that sin. Also the Imprisonment of such as are Solvent Consider'd. Protections Protected, An Act of Grace Magnified Lastly An Advice to both Creditor and Debtor. Dublin: printed for the author, 1719. ESTC No. T63782. Grub Street ID 288925.