Publications of Arthur Collins

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 for Arthur Collins

  • The gamesters law; wherein is treated, of unlawful games, and what are esteemed such in our law. What Considerations are good to ground an Assumpsit for Money won upon Wagers and Bets. Several Cases on Particular Games; As Dice, Cards, Horse-Racing, Cock-Fighting, &c. Of Pleading the Statute 16 Car. 2. c. 7. Against Excessive Gaming, and the Explanation thereof, and what Securities given for Money won at Play, are avoided by the said Statute, in several Nice Cases Argued and Resolved by the Judges. Of Cheats in Gaming. Remedy against Cheats in several resolv'd Cases by Action at Law, or by Indictments, &c. Of the Power of the Justices by the Common and Statute Law in punishing Offenders, and searching Gaming Houses. London: printed for Arthur Collins at the Black-Boy in Fleet-Street; and Sam. Butler at Bernard's-Inn-Gate in Holbourn, 1708. ESTC No. T142581. Grub Street ID 189892.

Author

  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, an historical and geneaological account of the present nobility. Containing, The Descent, Original Creations, and most Remarkable Actions, of their respective Ancestors. Also, the chief Titles of Honour and Preferment they now enjoy; with their Marriages and Issue; continu'd down to this present Year, 1709; and the Paternal Coats of Arms of each Family, in Blazon. Collected as well from our best Historians, publick Records, and other sufficient Authorities; as from the personal Informations of most of the Nobility. To which is prefix'd, An Introduction of the present Royal Family of Great-Britain, trac'd thro' its several Branches down to this Time; and terminating with the Protestant Succession, as settled by Act of Parliament. London: printed by G.J. for Abel Roper and Arthur Collins, at the Black-Boy in Fleetstreet, 1709. ESTC No. T145747. Grub Street ID 192473.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, an historical and genealogical account of the present nobility. Containing The Descent, Original Creations, and most Remarkable Actions of them and their respective Ancestors. Also, the chief Titles of Honour and Preferment they now enjoy; with their Marriages and Issue; continu'd down to this present Year, 1710; and the Paternal Coat of Arms of each Family, Engrav'd and Blazon'd. Collected as well from our best Historians, publick Records, and other sufficient Authorities; as from the personal Informations of most of the Nobility. To which is prefix'd, An Introduction of the present Royal Family of Great-Britain, trac'd thro' its several Branches down to this Time; and terminating with the Protestant Succession, as settled by Act of Parliament. London: printed by G. J. for Abel Roper and Arthur Collins, at the Black-Boy in Fleetstreet, 1710. ESTC No. N11874. Grub Street ID 1876.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, an historical and genealogical account of the present nobility. ... London: printed by G. J. for Abel Roper and Arthur Collins, 1710. ESTC No. T214383. Grub Street ID 240795.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, a genealogical and historical account of all the flourishing families of this kingdom, Who have born the Dignity of Peerage, either by Tenure, Summons to Parliament, Investiture, or Creation, &c. from the Saxons Time, to this present Year, 1711. In which is contain'd some Memoirs of the Lives of the most Eminent Persons the Nation has ever produc'd: The Date of their Summons to Parliament, Advancement to Honours and Employments; their Marriages and Issue; with the Original of many Ancient Families, not to be found in Sir William Dugdale, or any other Printed Author; and the Continuation of several others, who are still Existing in their Collateral Branches. Faithfully Collected from Approved Manuscripts, Publick Histories and Records, and other Credible Authorities. And with the First Volume of this Work compleats the whole Peerage of England to this Time. Vol.II. Part I. London: printed for E. Sanger at the Post-House, and A. Collins at the Black-Boy in Fleetstreet, 1711. ESTC No. T114344. Grub Street ID 166159.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: vol.II. or, a genealogical and historical account of all the families of this kingdom, That have born the Dignity of Peerage; either by Tenure, Summons to Parliament, Investiture, or Creation, &c. from the Conquest to this present Year, 1713. Wherein is contain'd the Lives of many Eminent Persons; the Dates of their Summons to Parliament; their principal Employments, and when their several Honours expired; with their Marriages and Issue: As also the Continuation of many Families still existing in their Colateral Branches; Being the Substance of Sir William Dugdale's Baronage; Improv'd, and continu'd, from several other Authors, Manuscripts, &c. Part I. The second edition, with a supplement; containing some families formerly omitted, and others, where the honour lies dormant, or exists in Female-Issue. London: printed for A. Collins, at the Black Boy against St. Dunstan's Church, in Fleetstreet, 1714. ESTC No. T139813. Grub Street ID 187648.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, an historical and genealogical account of the present nobility. Containing The Descent, Original Creations, and most Remarkable Actions of them and their Ancestors. Also, the chief Titles of Honour and Preferment they now enjoy; with their Marriages and Issue; continued to this Time, and the Paternal Coat of Arms of each Family Engrav'd and Blazon'd. Collected as well from our best Historians, publick Records, and other sufficient Authorities, as from the personal Informations of most of the Nobility. In Two parts. London: printed by E.J. for Abel Roper and Arthur Collins, at the Black-Boy in Fleetstreet, 1714. ESTC No. T145748. Grub Street ID 192474.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or, an historical and genealogical account of the present nobility. Containing, The Descent, Creations, and most Remarkable Actions of them and their Ancestors. Also, the Chief Titles of Honour and Preferment they now enjoy; with their Marriages and Issue; continued to this Time, and the Paternal Coat of Arms of each Family, Engrav'd and Blazon'd. Collected as well from our best Historians, Publick Records, and other sufficient Authorities, as from the personal Informations of most of the Nobility. In two parts. Vol. I. London: printed by E.J. and sold by Arthur Collins at the Black-Boy in Fleetstreet, and J. Morphew near Stationers-Hall, MDCCXV. [1715]. ESTC No. T114345. Grub Street ID 166160.
  • Collins, Arthur. A supplement to The peerage of England. Containing, several additions and corrections, not printed in the former editions. London: printed for A. Collins, at the Black Boy, against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet, 1716. ESTC No. T117796. Grub Street ID 169382.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England: or an, historical and genealogical account of the present nobility. Containing the descent, creations, and most remarkable actions ... In two parts. The fourth edition, corrected, and very much enlarg'd ... To which is also added a general index o the several families of Great Britain and Ireland, ... London: printed and sold by W. Taylor, 1717. ESTC No. N11849. Grub Street ID 1853.
  • Collins, Arthur. The baronettage of England: being an historical and genealogical account of baronets, from their first institution in the reign of King James I. Containing Their Descents, the Remarkable Actions and Employments of them and their Ancestors: As also their Marriages, Issue, &c. with their Coats of Arms and Crests Engrav'd and Blazon'd. Volume I. London: printed for W. Taylor, at the Ship in Pater-Noster Row; R. Gosling, at the Middle-Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street; and J. Osborn, at the Oxford-Arms in Lombard-Street, 1720. ESTC No. T114027. Grub Street ID 165866.
  • Collins, Arthur. The English baronage: or an historical account of the lives and most memorable actions of our nobility; with their descents, marriages, and issue. ... By Arthur Collins, Esq; Volume the first. London: printed for Robert Gosling, 1727. ESTC No. T138998. Grub Street ID 186865.
  • Collins, Arthur. Proceedings, precedents, and arguments, on claims and controversies, concerning baronies by writ, and other honours. With the arguments of Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Henry Montagu, the Lord Chief Justice Crew, the Lord Chief Justice Brampston, Judge Dodderidge, Judge Rolles, Mr. Selden, Sir Heneage Finch, Mr. Montagu, (afterwards Lord Chief Baron) Sir William Jones, Sir William Dugdale, Mr. Offley, Sir Edward Northey, Sir Thomas Powis, and others. Published from the collections of Robert Glover, Esq; Somerset Herald, Sir William Dugdale, Garter King of Arms, Gregory King, Esq; Lancaster Herald, Samuel Stebbing, Esq; Somerset Herald, Peter le Neve, Esq; Norroy King of Arms, and others. By Arthur Collins, Esq; With An Appendix, containing several Papers copied from the Bodleian and Ashmolæan Libraries, at Oxford, &c. London: printed for the author, MDCCXXXIV. [1734]. ESTC No. T139236. Grub Street ID 187106.
  • Collins, Arthur. Proceedings, precedents, and arguments, on claims and controversies, concerning baronies by writ, and other honours. With the arguments of Sir Francis Bacon, Sir Henry Montagu, the Lord Chief Justice Crew, the Lord Chief Justice Brampston, Judge Dodderidge, Judge Rolles, Mr. Selden, Sir Heneage Finch, Mr. Montagu, (afterwards Lord Chief Baron) Sir William Jones, Sir William Dugdale, Mr. Offley, Sir Edward Northey, Sir Thomas Powis, and others. Published from the manuscript collections of Robert Glover, Esq; Somerset Herald, Sir William Dugdale, Garter King of Arms, Gregory King, Esq; Lancaster Herald, Samuel Stebbing, Esq; Somerset Herald, Peter le Neve, Esq; Norroy King of Arms, and others: by Arthur Collins, Esq; With an appendix, containing several papers copied from the Bodleian and Ashmolæan Libraries, at Oxford, &c. London: printed for Thomas Wotton, at the Queen's Head and three Daggers over against St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-Street, MDCCXXXIV. [1734]. ESTC No. T139237. Grub Street ID 187107.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of England, Now existing, either by Tenure, Summons or Creation: Their Descents and Coblateral Lines: Their Births, Marriages, and Issues: Famous Actions both in War and Peace: Religious and Charitable Donations: Deaths, Places of Burial, Monuments, Epitaphs: And many valuable Memoirs never before printed. Also Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Crfsts, and Supporters, curiously engraven on Copper Plates. Collected from Records, Old Wills, Authentick Manuscripts, our most approv'd Historians, and other Authorities. By Arthur Collins, Esq; Vol. I. London: printed for R. Gosling and T. Wotton in Fleet-Street, and W. Innys and R. Manby at the West End of St Paul's, MDCCXXXV. [1735]. ESTC No. T114343. Grub Street ID 166158.
  • Collins, Arthur. The life and glorious actions of Edward Prince of Wales, (commonly call'd the Black Prince) eldest son of King Edward the Third. Containing, remarkable occurrences of those times, and particular relations of the battle of Cressey, where the whole power of France was broken, two kings slain, and a third put to flight. The battle of Poictiets ten years after, when he again overthrew the French, and took their king prisoner. The battle of Najara in Spain, where at one blow he decided the fate of a kingdom, and forced the Spaniards to accept Don Pedro for their king. Also the history of his royal brother John of Gaunt, King of Castile and Leon, Duke of Lancaster, and Father of Henry IV, King of England, relating his several expeditions, and an account of his right to the kingdom of Spain. With his marriages, issue, and the descendants from him now existing, among which are the present emperor of Germany, king of Spain, and king of Portugal. London: printed for the booksellers in town and country, M. DCC. XL. [1740]. ESTC No. N72201. Grub Street ID 52024.
  • Collins, Arthur. The life and glorious actions of Edward Prince of Wales, (commonly call'd the Black Prince) ... Also the history of his royal brother John of Gaunt, ... Collected from records, manuscripts, and historians by Arthur Collins, Esq;. London: printed for Thomas Osborne, 1740. ESTC No. T139241. Grub Street ID 187109.
  • Collins, Arthur. The history of John of Gaunt, ... Relating his several expeditions, ... With his marriages, issue, ... Collected from records, manuscripts, and historians, by Arthur Collins, Esq;. London: printed for Thomas Osborne, 1740. ESTC No. T139242. Grub Street ID 187110.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of England, Now existing, either by Tenure, Summons or Creation: Their Descents and Collateral Lines: Their Births, Marriages, and Issues: Famous Actions both in War and Peace: Religious and Charitable Donations: Deaths, Places of Burial, Monuments, Epitaphs: And many valuable Memoirs never before printed. Also Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Crests, and Supporters, curiously engraven on Copper Plates. Collected from Records, Old Wills, Authentick Manuscripts, our most approv'd Historians, and other Authorities. By Arthur Collins, Esq; Vol. I. London: printed for W. Innys at the West End of St. Paul's, R. Manby on Ludgate-Hill, T. Wotton and F. Gosling in Fleet-Street, MDCCXLL [i.e. 1741]. ESTC No. T43830. Grub Street ID 272353.
  • Collins, Arthur. Letters and memorials of state, in the reigns of Queen Mary, ... part of the reign of King Charles the Second, and Oliver's usurpation. Written and collected by Sir Henry Sydney, ... Sir Philip Sydney, and his brother Sir Robert Sydney, ... Robert, the second Earl of Leicester, ... Philip Lord Viscount Lisle, ... Whereunto is added, genealogical and historical observations: ... By Arthur Collins, ... London: printed for T. Osborne, 1746. ESTC No. T139239. Grub Street ID 187108.
  • Collins, Arthur. A supplement to the four volumes of The peerage of England. Containing A Succession of the peers from 1740; with Accouts of those that have been promoted to higher Titles. And a Genealogical History of all the Families since advanced to the Peerage of this Kingdom. Their Births, Marriages, and Issues; Places of Burial, and Epitaphs: With Memoirs of their famous Actions, and Employments, both in War and Peace, never before printed. Also, Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Crests, and Supporters, curiously engraven on Copper Plates. Collected from Records, authentick Manuscripts, our most approved Historians, and other Authorities. In two volumes. By Arthur Collins, Esq; Vol. I. London: printed for W. Innys, J. and P. Knapton, S. Birt, T. Wotton, R. Manby and H. S. Cox, and E. Withers, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. T6264. Grub Street ID 288109.
  • Collins, Arthur. An history of the ancient and illustrious family of the Percys, Barons Percy, and Earls of Northumberland. Collected from records, authentick manuscripts, ... By Arthur Collins, Esq;. London: printed in the year, 1750. ESTC No. T139245. Grub Street ID 187113.
  • Collins, Arthur. Historical collections of the noble families of Cavendishe, Holles, Vere, Harley, and Ogle, with the lives of the most remarkable persons, ... Containing curious private memoirs, ... And prints of the principal persons, ... Collected from records, manuscripts, ... and othe undoubted authorities. By Arthur Collins, Esq;. London: printed, for Edward Withers, 1752. ESTC No. T139243. Grub Street ID 187111.
  • Collins, Arthur. Historical collections of the noble family of Windsor; Barons Windsor from the Reign of King William the Conqueror, and Earls of Plimouth from the Reign of King Charles the Second; Viscounts Windsor of the Kingdom of Ireland from the Reign of King William the Third; and Barons Montjoy in England from the Reign of Queen Anne. Containing their births, marriages, and issues: Famous Actions both in War and Peace: Religious and Charitable Donations, Deaths, Places of Burial, Monuments, Epitaphs, and valuable memoirs, Never before printed. Collected from records, old wills, authentick Manuscripts, and our most approved Historians. By Arthur Collins, Esq. London: printed for the author, MDCCLIV. [1754]. ESTC No. T139244. Grub Street ID 187112.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of England, now existing, either by Tenure, Summons, or Creations: Their Descents and Collateral Lines: Their Births, Marriages, and Issues: Famous Actions both in War and Peace, Religious and Charitable Donations: Deaths, Places of Burial, Monuments, Epitaphs. And many valuable Memoirs never before printed. Also Their Paternal Coats of Arms, Crists, Supporters and Motto's Curiously engraven on Copper Plates. Collected from Records, Old Wills, Authentick Manuscripts, our most approv'd Historians, and other Authorities, which are Cited. By Arthur Collins, Esq; Vol. I. Part I. London: printed for W. Innys and J. Richardson, T. Wotton and E. Withers, C. Hitch and L. Hawes, R. Manby, J. and J. Rivington, H.S. Cox, W. Johnston, P. Davey and B. Law, MDCCLVI. [1756]. ESTC No. T113957. Grub Street ID 165800.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of that kingdom, now existing, either by tenure, summons, or creation; their descents and collateral lines: Their births, marriages, and issue: famous actions both in war and peace: religious and charitable donations: Deaths, places of burial, monuments, epitaphs: and many valuable memoirs never before printed. Also their paternal coats of arms, crests, supporters and mottoes, curiously engraved on zoo copper-plates. collected from records, old wills, authentic manuscripts, our most approved historians, and other authorities, which are cited. By Arthur Collins, Esq; In seven volumes. London: printed for H. Woodfall, J. Beecroft, W. Strahan, J. Rivington, W. Sandby, J. Fuller, R. Baldwin, L. Hawes, W. Clarke, and R. Colliins, R. Horsefield, W. Johnson, T. Caslon, S. Crowder, T. Longman, C. Rivington, W. Griffin, M. and J. Shuckburgh, W. Nicoll, S. Bladon, M. Folingsby, T. Payne, J. Ronson, T. Davies, R. Davies, J. Almon, and H. Gardner, MDCCLXVIII. [1768]. ESTC No. T114555. Grub Street ID 166354.
  • Collins, Arthur. The peerage of England; containing a genealogical and historical account of all the peers of that Kingdom, ... Also their paternal coats of arms, crests, ... curiously engraved ... By Arthur Collins, Esq; In eight volumes. London: printed for W. Strahan, J. F. and C. Rivington, J. Hinton, T. Payne, W. Owen [and 23 others in London], 1779. ESTC No. T139246. Grub Street ID 187114.