Publications of Bezaleel Creake

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 Bezaleel Creake

  • Handel, George Frideric. Julius Cæsar: an opera. Compos'd by G. Frederick Handel, ... London: printed at Cluer's, and sold there, and by B. Creake, [1724]. ESTC No. T161815. Grub Street ID 200811.

Sold by Bezaleel Creake

  • Hansel, John George. Medicina brevis: or, a short account of the primary causes of most diseases: their signs, symptons, can cure: with a succinct account of the original cause of plagues, and pestilential distempers: and the best experimental remedies for their cure. The second edition. By John-George Hansell, Chymic. & Pharm. London: printed for R.P. and sold by Tho. Corbett, at Addison's Head without Temple-Bar; R. Creake, in Jermyn-Street, against St. James's Church; J. Stone on Ludgate-Hill, and T. Atkins against St. Clement's Church in the Strand, Booksellers, MDCCXXI. [1721]. ESTC No. N72272. Grub Street ID 52065.
  • The history of the kingdom of Scotland, from Fergus the first king, to the commencement of the union of the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, In the Sixth Year of the Reign of our late Sovereign Queen Anne, Anno 1707. Wherein Several Mistakes of Buchanan, and other of the Common Writers of the History of Scotland, are Refuted: With an Account of several Remarkable Occurrences of that Ancient Kingdom never before Published; particularly, of the Horrid Murder of the Glenco Men in the Year 1692. To which is added, an account of the rebellion in Scotland in the Year 1715, and of the Tryal of the Lord Bolingbroke by the Pretender and his Lords at Avignon. As also, A Description of the Kingdom of Scotland, and the Isles thereunto belonging; with the Names, Surnames, and Titles of the Peers, with the Dates of their Creation; the Names of the Clans and Families of Distinction, and the Laws and Government in Church and State. By J. W. M.D. Dublin: printed for the author; and sold by T. Saunders, at the Bell in Little-Britain; B. Creake, at the Bible in Jermyn-Street, St. James's, London, M.DCC.XXIV. [1724]. ESTC No. N327. Grub Street ID 21270.

Printed for Bezaleel Creake

  • Blakeway, Robert. An exhortation to obedience and faithful adherence to King George. In two sermons preach'd at Little Ilford in Essex, in November and December, 1715. ... By Robert Blakeway, ... London: printed for Bezaleel Creake, [1716?]. ESTC No. T365. Grub Street ID 266418.
  • Rebellious fame: a poem. Occasion'd by the many lies and scandals dispers'd against the Government, since the late rebellion. London: printed for Bezaleel Creake at the Bible and Ink-Bottle in Germain-Street, near St. James's; and sold by R. Burleigh in Amen-Corner, and J. Harrison in Cornhill, 1717 [1716]. ESTC No. T72389. Grub Street ID 295915.
  • The plot discovered: or, some observations upon a late vile Jesuitical pamphlet, written and published by the desperate agents and understrappers of Count Gyllembourg. Called, Fair payment no spunge. Humbly address'd to the loyal people of Great-Britain. London: printed for B. Creak at the Bible and Ink-Bottle in Germain-Street, near St. James's; and sold by R. Burleigh in Amen-Corner, and E. Robins in Tanfield Court under the Temple Church, 1717. ESTC No. N11551. Grub Street ID 1556.
  • Noailles, Louis-Antoine de. The mandate of His Eminence Monseigneur the Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris, for the publishing the appeal which he brought the 3d of April, 1717. to the Pope better advised, ... To which is added, the extract from the registers of the Chancery of the Church and University of Paris ... London: printed for Bezaleel Creake; J. Sackfield; and sold by T. Warner, [1718]. ESTC No. T135358. Grub Street ID 183789.
  • Gentleman.. Some considerations humbly offer'd, relating to the peerage of Great Britain. By a gentleman. London: printed for Bez. Creake: A. Dodd; and J. Harrison, 1719. ESTC No. T49253. Grub Street ID 277101.
  • Desaguliers, J. T. A system of experimental philosophy, prov'd by mechanicks. Wherein the principles and laws of physicks, mechanicks, hydrostaticks, and opticks, are demonstrated and explained at large, by a great Number of curious Experiments: With a full Description of the Air-Pump, and the several Experiments thereon: As also of the different Species of Barometers, Thermometers, and Hydrometers; as shewn at the publick Lectures in a Course of Mechanical and Experimental Philosyphy. As performed by J. T. Desaguliers. M. A. F. R. S, Illustrated with several copper plates. To which is added, Sir Isaac Newton's colours: the description of the condensing engine, with its Apparatus: and Rowley's horary; a Machine representing the Motion of the Moon about the Earth; Venus and Mercury about the Sun, according to the Copernican system. London: printed for B. Creake:, at the Bible and Ink-Bottle in Jermyn-Street, St. James's J. Sackfield, in Lincolns-Inn-Square: and sold by W. Mears, at the Lamb without Temple-Bar 1719. ESTC No. T65011. Grub Street ID 289947.
  • True English advice to the freeholders in L------r S------r. In a letter to a friend. Calculated for the year 1720. London: printed for Bez. Creake, and sold by T. Warner, 1720. ESTC No. T51864. Grub Street ID 279056.
  • Hamilton, Newburgh. The petticoat-Plotter; a farce of two acts: as it was acted at the Theatre Royal in Drury-Lane, and the New Theatre in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. London: printed for Bez Creake, at the Bible in Jermyn-Street, against St. James's Church, and J. Sackfield in Lincoln's-Inn Square, MDCCXX. [1720]. ESTC No. T109236. Grub Street ID 162043.
  • A geographical and historical account of the several empires, kingdoms, republicks, principalities and dukedoms of Europe; with an exact list of all the capital cities, the names of the respective sovereigns, their ages, ... together with an account of the most noted sea ports, ... London: printed by H. Parker for Bezaleel Creak, 1721. ESTC No. N65767. Grub Street ID 47589.
  • An historical compendium, from the creation, to the year of our Lord 1722, in two parts; ... London: printed for B. Creak, 1722. ESTC No. N7672. Grub Street ID 52602.
  • Bradley, Richard. Ten practical discourses concerning earth and water, fire and air, as they relate to the growth of plants. With a collection of new discoveries for the improvement of land, either in the farm or garden. By R. Bradley, Professor of Botany in the University of Cambridge, and F.R.S. Westminster: printed by J. Cluer and A. Campbell, for B. Creake at the Bible in Jermyn-Street, St. James's, MDCCXXVII. [1727]. ESTC No. T6440. Grub Street ID 289439.
  • Campbell, Archibald. Aret?-logia or, an enquiry into the original of moral virtue; wherein the false notions of Machiavel, Hobbes, Spinoza, and Mr. Bayle, as they are collected and digested by the author of The fable of the bees, are examin'd and confuted; ... To which is prefix'd, a prefatory introduction, in a letter to that author. By Alexander Innes, ... Westminster: printed by J. Cluer and A. Campbell, for B. Creake: sold by J. Hazard near Ludgate; and by B. Barker, 1728. ESTC No. T113245. Grub Street ID 165188.
  • Humphreys, Samuel. A congratulatory poem, humbly address'd to His Royal Highness Frederick, Prince of Wales, upon his arrival in Great Britain. By Samuel Humphreys, ... London: printed for B. Creake; and sold by J. Roberts, 1729. ESTC No. T127982. Grub Street ID 177631.
  • Morgan, J. The new political state of Great Britain. Including the public affairs of foreign courts. Compiled by J. Morgan. Vol. 1. Containing, January, February, March, April, May, June. In these Six Numbers are divers curious and genuine Pieces, not to be met with elsewhere. To which is annexed, an appendix: with notable memoirs of the Lives, Characters, Writings, &c. of several Persons of Note and Figure, chiefly in the Republic of Literature. With a compleat table of contents to the whole. London: printed by A. Campbell in King-Street, Westminster: for B. Creake, in Jermyn-Street, near St. James's Church; E. Curll, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden; T. Payne, in Ivy-Lane; J. Brindley, in New Bond-Street; J. Brotherton, in Cornhill; T. Worrall, at the Judge's Head, in Fleet-Street; J. Penn, Westminster-Hall, and R. Montagu, at the Post-Office, the Corner of Great Queen-Street, 1730. Where may be had any single Number, [1730]. ESTC No. T223251. Grub Street ID 245922.
  • Keating, Geoffrey. A general history of Ireland, viz. a full and impartial account of the original of that kingdom; ... Collected by the learned Jeoffry Keating, ... Faithfully translated from the original Irish language, by Dermo'd O Connor, ... The third edition. With an appendix ... collected from the remarks of the learned Dr. Anthony Raymond, ... London: printed for B. Creake, and sold by Olive Payne, 1738. ESTC No. N30899. Grub Street ID 19813.

Author

  • Creake, Bezaleel. A catalogue of books in quires: together with part of the copies of Mr. Bezaleel Creake, bookseller: which will be sold by auction to the booksellers of London and Westminster, at the Queens-Head Tavern in Pater-Noster-Row, on Friday the 21st day of April 1727, ... [Westminster: printed by A. Campbell, 1727]. ESTC No. T216593. Grub Street ID 242028.