Publications of Thomas Edlin

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 Thomas Edlin

  • Rolli, Paolo. P. C. Scipione drama, di Paolo Rolli. Londra: printed by Thomas Edlin, at the Prince's Arms, over-against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand, 1726. ESTC No. T72751. Grub Street ID 296165.
  • Boyd, Elizabeth. A poem on the arrival of the Right Honourable William Earl Cowper, after a dangerous illness. Against his birth-day. By Louisa. London: printed by T. Edlin, 1730. ESTC No. N11662. Grub Street ID 1666.
  • Le-Hunt, Alexander. A poem, address'd to the Right Honourable Richard, Earl of Burlington, Upon His being Install'd Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. By Alexander Le-Hunt, M. A. Fellow of St. John's College in Cambridge. London: printed by Tho. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, opposite Exeter-Exchange in the Strand; and sold by J. Roberts at the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane, 1730. ESTC No. T60945. Grub Street ID 286708.
  • Overbeke, Bonaventura van. Stampe degli avanzi dell' antica Roma opra di Bonaventura Overbeke Per comodo pubblico a propria spesa rinovate assistite e accresciute da Giacomo Amiconi. Londra: [printed by Thomas Edlin], 1739. ESTC No. T141517. Grub Street ID 189030.
  • Alberti, Leone Battista. The architecture of Leon Battista Alberti in ten books. Of painting in three books and of statuary in one book. Translated into Italian by Cosimo Bartoli. London: printed by Thomas Edlin, 1739. ESTC No. N55084. Grub Street ID 38639.

Sold by Thomas Edlin

  • Campbell, John. A new and complete history of the Holy Bible, as contained in the writings of the Old and New Testament. ... illustrated with notes, ... With dissertations upon the most remarkable passages and events. Adorned with a new sett of cuts, necessary maps, and chronological tables. ... By John Campbell, Esq;. London: printed and sold by T. Edlin, 1733. ESTC No. N62930. Grub Street ID 45188.

Printed for Thomas Edlin

  • Browne, Moses. The throne of justice; a Pindaric ode; humbly dedicated to the Right Honorable the Lord Viscount Molesworth. By Mr. Browne. London: printed for T. Edlin at the Prince's Arms over-against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand, 1721. ESTC No. N14319. Grub Street ID 4199.
  • The longitude found out: a tale. London: printed for Thomas Edlin at the Prince's Arms, over-against Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand, 1721. ESTC No. N2806. Grub Street ID 17282.
  • The peeper: being a sequel to The curious maid. London: printed for Thomas Edlin, 1721. ESTC No. N20016. Grub Street ID 9439.
  • Two letters on the subject of the divinity of the Son of God. One to the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham, and one to the Reverend Mr. William Whiston. Shewing that in the present method of that controversy, they are both mistaken. With a preface and a postscript, wherein something farther i offer'd from the scriptures on that important question. London: printed for Tho. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms over against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand: and sold by J. Roberts, in Warwick-Lane, MDCCXXI. [1721]. ESTC No. T52100. Grub Street ID 279265.
  • A true, authentick, and impartial history of the life and glorious actions of the Czar of Muscovy: from his birth to his death. ... The whole compiled from the Russian, High Dutch and French languages, state papers, and other publick authorities. London: printed for A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster Row, G. Strahan, W. Meadows in Cornhill, J. Stagg in Westminster-hall, J. Graves in St. James’s-Street, S. Chapman in Pall-Mall, R. Frankling in Covent-Garden, J. Harding in St. Martin’s-Lane, T. Edlin in the Strand, and J. Jackson near St. James’s House, [1725?]. ESTC No. N14081. Grub Street ID 3983.
  • The mountebank. By Democritus Sindercombe of Moor-Fields. London [England]: printed for T. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, over against Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand; and sold by T. Warner, at the Black Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, and J. Joliffe in St. James's-Street, [1732]. ESTC No. P6109. Grub Street ID 57862.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Thomas Edlin

  • Defoe, Daniel. The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. who was born in Newgate, ... Written from her own memorandums. London: printed for, and sold by T. Edlin; W. Chetwood; and W. Mears; J. Brotherton; C. King, and J. Stags, 1722. ESTC No. N31966. Grub Street ID 20845.
  • Defoe, Daniel. The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. Who was born in Newgate, and during a Life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother) Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest, and died a Penitent, Written from her own memorandums. London: printed for, and sold by W. Chetwood, at Cato's-Head, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; and T. Edling, at the Prince's-Arms over-against Exerter-Change in the Strand, MDCCXXI. [1721] [1722]. ESTC No. T70314. Grub Street ID 294073.
  • Defoe, Daniel. The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. who was born in Newgate, And during a Life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother) Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest, and died a Penitent. Written from her own memorandums. London: printed for, and sold by W. Chetwood, at Cato's-Head, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; and T. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, over-against Exeter-Change in the Strand; W. Mears, at the Lamb without Temple-Bar; J. Brotherton, by the Royal-Exchange; C. King, and J Stags, in Westminster Hall, MDCCXXII. [1722]. ESTC No. T70315. Grub Street ID 294074.
  • Burnet, Gilbert. An abridgment of Bishop Burnet's History of his own times. By the reverend Mr. Thomas Stackhouse. London: printed: and sold by J. Smith, next the Fountain-Tavern, and Tho. Edlin, in the Strand; W. Mears, at the Lamb without Temple-Bar; and J. Jackson, at the Prince's Arms in the Pall-Mall, M.DCC.XXIV. [1724]. ESTC No. T110438. Grub Street ID 162966.
  • Muralt, Béat Louis de. Letters describing the character and customs of the English and French nations. With a curious essay on travelling; and a criticism on Boileau's description of Paris. Translated from the French. London: printed and sold by Tho. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, over-against Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand, MDCCXXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. N2551. Grub Street ID 14862.
  • Muralt, Béat Louis de. Letters describing the character and customs of the English and French nations. With a curious essay on travelling. And a criticism on Boileau's description of Paris. By Mr. Muralt, ... The second edition. To which are now added, critical remarks on the whole work, by gentlemen of the English and French nations. With a complete index. Translated from the French. London: printed and sold by Tho. Edlin; and N. Prevost, 1726. ESTC No. N19973. Grub Street ID 9395.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The Parrot. By Mrs. Prattle. London [England]: printed and sold by Tho. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, over-against Exeter-Exchange in the Strand, and at his shop in St. Mary's Passage in St. James's Park, sold by J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, A. Dodd without Temple-Bar, E. Nutt at the Royal-Exchange, J. Jackson in Pall-Mall, J. Brindley and J. Smith near Hanover-Square. Where advertisements are taken in, [1728]. ESTC No. P220. Grub Street ID 55904.