Publications of John Darby the Younger

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 Darby the Younger

  • Holden, Adam. A funeral sermon on Mr. Richard Wells, Preach'd at Deptford, Oct. 3. 1710. By A. Holden. London: printed by J. Darby, and sold by J. Baker at Mercers-Chappel in Cheapside, 1710. ESTC No. T593. Grub Street ID 285321.
  • Clarendon, Edward Hyde. The Earl of Clarendon's opinion of the dissolution of the Parliament, which met in April, 1640. London: printed by J, Darby, in Bartholomew-Close, 1710. ESTC No. T227450. Grub Street ID 248498.
  • Gale, John. A thanksgiving-Sermon preach'd November 5. 1713. In Commemoration of The Deliverance of this Nation from the Gunpowder Plot: And of the Late Glorious Revolution in 1688. By John Gale, M. A. & Dr.Ph. London: printed by John Darby in Bartholomew-Close, M.DCC.XIII. [1713]. ESTC No. N14346. Grub Street ID 4227.
  • Practical discourses concerning hearing the Word. Preach'd at the Friday evening-lecture in Eastcheap. By several ministers. London: printed by J. Darby for J. Laurence, and N. Cliff and D. Jackson, 1713. ESTC No. N12032. Grub Street ID 2042.
  • The medleys for the year 1711. To which are prefix'd the five Whig-Examiners. London: printed by J. D. [i.e. John Darby] and are to be sold by Tho. Corbett, at the Corner of Fleet-Bridge, next Ludgate-Hill, 1714. ESTC No. T124283. Grub Street ID 174515.
  • Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper. Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times. In three volumes. The second edition corrected. By the Right Honourable Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury. [London: printed by John Darby], 1714 [1715]. ESTC No. T66620. Grub Street ID 291360.
  • Un de ses auditeurs.. Avis à l'archippe; ou lettre à Mons. J----, ministre d'une église franoise à Londres, ... par un de ses auditeurs. Londres: imprimée par Jean Darby; & se vend chez J. Noon, 1724. ESTC No. T106667. Grub Street ID 159799.
  • Shakespeare, William. Othello, the Moor of Venice; a tragedy, as it hath been divers times acted at the Globe, and at the Black-Friers: and now at the Theater-Royal, by His Majesty's servants. Written by W. Shakespear. London: printed by John Darby, for Mary Poulson, and sold by A. Bettesworth, R. Caldwell, and F. Clay, 1724. ESTC No. T65543. Grub Street ID 290460.
  • Gale, John. Sermons preach'd upon several subjects, by the late reverend and learned Dr. John Gale. ... London: printed by J. Darby: and sold by E. Bell and J. Brotherton, J. Noon and J. Morley, and A. Ward, 1724-26. ESTC No. T64786. Grub Street ID 289773.
  • An exact account of two real dreams, Which happen'd to the same Person; The first of them in the Year 1708, which was then publish'd, with the Copy of Verses prefix'd; The other on August 21, 1714, the Author being then in India. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close; and sold by J. Noon near Mercers-Chapel in Cheapside, and J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, M.DCC.XXV. [1725]. ESTC No. T216465. Grub Street ID 242000.
  • Randall, Matthew. Reflections on the duty of masters, mistresses, and servants: in which several irregularities are reproved, ... By Matthew Randall. London: printed by J. Darby; and sold by J. Noon, 1725. ESTC No. N50889. Grub Street ID 34918.
  • Morgan, Thomas. Philosophical principles of medicine, in three parts. Containing, I. A demonstration of the General laws of gravity, with their Effects upon Animal Bodys. II. The more particular Laws which obtain in the Motion and Secretion of the vital Fluids, applied to the principal Diseases and Irregularitys of the Animal Machine. III. The primary and chief Intentions of Medicine in the Cure of Diseases, problematically propos'd and mechanically resolv'd. By Tho. Morgan, M.D. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close, and sold by J. Osborne, T. Longman, and J. Batley in Paternoster-Row, F. Clay without Temple-Bar, E. Symon in Cornhil, S. Billingsley in Chancery-Lane, and S. Chandler in the Poultrey, M.DCC.XXV. [1725]. ESTC No. T98969. Grub Street ID 318161.
  • Gale, John. Sermons preach'd upon several subjects, By the late Reverend and Learned Dr. John Gale. To which is prefix'd, An Account of his Life. In Four Volumes. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close: and sold by J. Noon and S. Chandler in the Poultrey, J. Brotherton in Cornhill, A. Ward in Little-Britain, and S. Billingsley in Chancery-Lane, M.DCC.XXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T6568. Grub Street ID 290581.
  • Chubb, Thomas. Human nature vindicated: or, a reply to Mr. Beaven's book entitled, Supernatural influences necessary to salvation: being a vindication of the fourth proposition of Robert Barclay's Apology. Wherein is shewn, That Man, in his Natural Capacity, is a Moral Agent; that he has Power, and is at Liberty to do both Good and Evil: and, consequently, can render himself either acceptable or displeasing to his Maker. In a second letter to a friend. Humbly offered to the Consideration of the People called Quakers. By Tho. Chubb. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close; and sold by J. Noon near Mercers-Chapel in Cheapside; and J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, M.DCC.XXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T97852. Grub Street ID 317209.
  • Chubb, Thomas. A vindication of God's moral character, as to the cause and origin of evil, both natural and moral. Wherein the case of liberty and necessity is considered, with regard to human actions. In a letter to a friend. By Tho. Chubb. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close; and sold by J. Noon near Mercers-Chapel in Cheapside, and J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, M.DCC.XXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T97859. Grub Street ID 317216.
  • De Gols, Gerard. A vindication of the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Supreme God, In all the Dispensations, Patriarchal, Mosaick and Christian. Demonstrating, That Christ was so known and worship'd in all Ages, from Adam to this Day. By G. de Gols, Rector of St. Peters at Sandwich. London: printed by J. Darby and T. Browne in Bartholomew-Close, and sold by Arthur Bettesworth in Pater-Noster-Row, and Jacob Silver Bookseller in Sandwich, M.DCC.XXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T12593. Grub Street ID 175982.
  • Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper. Characteristicks of men, manners, opinions, times. In three volumes. By the Right Honourable Anthony, Earl of Shaftesbury. The fifth edition, corrected. With the addition of a letter concerning design. [London: printed by John Darby], M.DCC.XXXII. [1732]. ESTC No. T144565. Grub Street ID 191420.

Sold by John Darby the Younger

  • The answer unto the letter written to a Quaker in Norfolk. London: printed and sold by John Darby in Bartholomew-Close, Arthur Bettesworth in Pater-Noster Row, John Clarke under the Royal-Exchange; and James Carlos in Norwich, M.DCC.XXX. [1730]. ESTC No. N5645. Grub Street ID 39584.

Printed for John Darby the Younger

  • Pétis, François. The history of Genghizcan the Great, first emperor of the antient Moguls and Tartars; in four books: Containing His Life, Advancement and Conquests; with a short History of his Successors to the present Time; the Manners, Customs and Laws of the Antient Moguls and Tartars; and the Geography of the vast Countries of Mogolistan, Turquestan, Capschac, Yugurestan, and the Eastern and Western Tartary. Collected from several Oriental authors, and European travellers; whose Names, with an Abridgment of their Lives, are added to this Book. By the late M. Petis de la Croix Senior, Secretary and Interpreter to the King in the Turkish and Arabick Languages. And now faithfully translated into English. London: printed for J. Darby in Bartholomew-Close, E. Bell in Cornhil, W. Taylor in Pater-Noster-Row, W and J. Innys at the West End of St. Paul's Church-Yard, and J. Osborn in Lombard-Street, M.DCC.XXII. [1722]. ESTC No. T105637. Grub Street ID 158902.
  • Addison, Joseph. The drummer; or, the haunted-house. A comedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane, by His Majesty's servants. The third edition. With a preface by Sir Richard Steele, in an Epistle Dedicatory to Mr. Congreve, occasioned by Mr. Tickell's preface to the four volumes of Mr. Addison's works. London: printed for J. Darby: and sold by Thomas Combes at the Bible and Dove in Pater-Noster-Row, 1722. ESTC No. T34971. Grub Street ID 265187.
  • Bailey, Nathan. An universal etymological English dictionary: ... The third edition, with large additions. By N. Bailey, ... London: printed for J. Darby. A. Bettesworth, F. Fayram, J. Pemberton, J. Hooke [and 4 others], 1726. ESTC No. T87495. Grub Street ID 307538.
  • Rowe, Nicholas. The works of Nicholas Rowe Esq; in three volumes. Volume I. Containing his poems, and translations; with some account of his life prefix'd. Volume II. The Ambitious Stepmother. Tamerlane. The Fair Penitent. Ulysses. Volume III. The Royal Convert. The Biter. Jane Shore. Jane Gray. London: printed for J. Darby, A. Bettesworth, F. Fayram, J. Tonson, B. Lintot, J. Osborn and T. Longman, J. Pemberton, C. Rivington, J. Hooke, F. Clay, J. Batley, E. Symon; Richard, James, and Bethel Wellington, M.DCC.XXVIII. [1728]. ESTC No. N26020. Grub Street ID 15387.
  • Hole, Matthew. Practical discourses on the several parts and offices of the liturgy of the Church of England. ... By Matthew Hole, ... London: printed for J. Darby; and sold by J. and J. Knapton, and C. Rivington, A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, and S. Birt, 1732. ESTC No. T211167. Grub Street ID 238958.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by John Darby the Younger

  • A reply to The answer unto the letter written to a Quaker in Norfolk. With an appendix. In the letter, reply, and appendix, all Robert Barclay's arguments, the standard of the Quakers faith, are fairly drawn forth, examined and confuted. London: printed and sold by John Darby, Arthur Bettesworth, John Clarke; and James Carlos in Norwich, 1730. ESTC No. N12782. Grub Street ID 2758.