Publications of Samuel Billingsley

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 Samuel Billingsley

  • The speech of the Right Honourable Philip Lord Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, made by him, as Lord High Steward of Great Britain, on Thursday the 19th day of March, 1746, upon giving judgment against Simon Lord Lovat, ... Published by order of the House o Peers. London: printed by Samuel Billingsley, 1746. ESTC No. N46611. Grub Street ID 31438.
  • The speech of the Right Honourable Philip Lord Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, made by him, as Lord High Steward of Great Britain, on Thursday the 19th day of March, 1746, upon giving judgment against Simon Lord Lovat, in Westminster-Hall, on the Impeachment of High-Treason, exhibited against Him, by the House of Commons. Published by Order of the House of Peers. London: printed by Samuel Billingsley, in Chancery-Lane, M.DCC.XLVII. [1747]. ESTC No. T49716. Grub Street ID 277483.

Printed for Samuel Billingsley

  • The scriptures and the Athanasians compared in their accounts of God the Father and of our Lord Jesus Christ. London: printed for S. Billingsley at the Judge's-Head in Chancery-Lane, and sold by J. Roberts at the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane, A. Dodd without Temple-Bar, and J. Billingsley at the Printing-Press under the Piazza of the Royal-Exchange, [1722]. ESTC No. N21345. Grub Street ID 10721.
  • An essay against unnecessary curiosity in matters of religion. Apply'd particularly to the doctrine of the blessed Trinity. By William Newton, ... London: printed for S. Billingsley; and sold by J. Roberts, and J. Billingsley, [1725?]. ESTC No. T14063. Grub Street ID 188326.
  • Manton, Thomas. One hundred and ninety sermons on the hundred and nineteenth psalm, ... by ... Thomas Manton, D.D. With a compleat alphabetical table. The second edition, very much corrected. To which are prefix'd, memoirs of the life and character of the author, by William Harris. London: printed for John Clark and Rich: Hett, John Wyat, Eman. Matthews, John and Benj. Sprint, John Darby, Arthur Bettesworth, Daniel Midwinter, John Osborn, Ranew Robinson, William Mount, John Brotherton, Theodore Sanders, Richard Ford, Thomas Cox, Jer. Batley, Edward Symon, Aaron Ward, Sam. Chandler, Sam. Billingsley, 1725. ESTC No. N41530. Grub Street ID 27874.
  • Kidder, Richard. A demonstration of the Messias. In which the truth of the Christian religion is proved, against all the enemies thereof; but especially against the Jews. In three parts. By ... Richard late Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. London: printed for John Osborn and Thomas Longman; Richard Ford; Aaron Ward; and Samuel Billingsley, 1726. ESTC No. T82372. Grub Street ID 302951.
  • Ralph, James. Zeuma: or the love of liberty. A poem. In three books. By James Ralph. London: printed by C. Ackers, for S. Billingsley, at the Judge's-Head in Chancery-Lane, [1729] [1728]. ESTC No. N14564. Grub Street ID 4369.
  • The life of the Right Reverend Dr. White Kennett, Late Lord Bishop of Peterborough. With several original letters Of the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Tennison, The late Earl of Sunderland, Bishop Kennett, &c. And some curious original papers and records, never before publish'd. London: printed for S. Billingsley at the Judge's-Head in Chancery-Lane; and sold by J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane; and T. Cox under the Royal-Exchange, M.DCC.XXX. [1730]. ESTC No. T132807. Grub Street ID 181706.
  • A paraphrase and commentary on the New Testament. In two volumes. The First, containing The Four Gospels, and the Acts of the Holy Apostles. The Second, All the Epistles, with a Discourse of the Millennium. To which are added A Chronology of the New Testament, a Map and Alphabetical Table of all the Places mentioned in the Gospels, Acts, or the Epistles, with Tables of the Matters contained and of the Words and Phrases explained throughout the whole Work; and the Examen millii. Vol. I. By Daniel Whitby, D. D. Late Chantor of the Church of Sarum. London: printed for J. Brotherton, W. Innys, R. Ware. W. Meadows, T. Cox, A. Ward, D. Browne, J. Clarke, C. Hitch, T. Osborne, J. Osborne, T. Astley, S. Austen, S. Billingsley, M. Mears, E. Wicksteed, M.DCC.XLIV. [1744]. ESTC No. T94471. Grub Street ID 314062.
  • The whole proceedings in the House of Peers, upon the indictments against William Earl of Kilmarnock, George Earl of Cromertie, and Arthur Lord Balmerino; for high treason, In Levying War against His Majesty: the proceeding in Westminster Hall being begun on Monday the 28th day of July, and continued on Wednesday the 30th of July, and Friday the first of August, 1746: On the last of which Days Judgment of High Treason was given against them. Published by Order of the House of Peers. London: printed for Samuel Billingsley, in Chancery-Lane, M.DCC.XLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T114299. Grub Street ID 166116.
  • The speech of the Right Honourable Philip Lord Hardwicke, Lord High-Chancellor of Great Britain; made by him, as Lord High-Steward of Great Britain, upon giving judgment against William Earl of Kilmarnock, George Earl of Cromertie, and Arthur Lord Balmerino; In Westminster-Hall, on Frida the first day of August, 1746. Published by Order of the House of Peers. London: printed for Samuel Billingsley, in Chancery-Lane, M.DCC.XLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T49717. Grub Street ID 277484.
  • The whole proceedings in the House of Peers, upon the impeachment Exhibited by the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, in Parliament Assembled, in the Names of Themselves, and of All the Commons of Great Britain; against Simon Lord Lovat, for high treason: the proceeding in Westminster-Hall being begun on Monday the 9th day of March, and continued on Tuesday the 10th, Wednesday the 11th, Friday the 13th, Monday the 16th, Wednesday the 18th, and Thursday the 19th days of March, 1746-7: On the last of which Days Judgment of High Treason was given against him. Published by Order of the House of Peers. London: printed for Samuel Billingsley, near the Rolls-Gate, in Chancery-Lane, MDCCXLVII. [1747]. ESTC No. T114300. Grub Street ID 166119.
  • Ferrers, Lawrence Shirley. The trial of Lawrence Earl Ferrers, for the murder of John Johnson, before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, in Westminster-Hall, in full Parliament, on Wednesday the 16th, Thursday the 17th, and Friday the 18th of April, 1760: on the last of which days, judgment for murder was given against him. Published by order of the House of Peers. London: printed for Samuel Billingsley, 1760. ESTC No. T143971. Grub Street ID 190927.
  • Byron, William Byron. The trial of William Lord Byron, Baron Byron of Rochdale, for the murder of William Chaworth, Esq; before the Right Honourable the House of Peers, in Westminster-Hall, in Full Parliament. On Tuesday the 16th, and Wednesday the 17th of April, 1765: on the last of which days the said William Lord Byron was acquitted of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter. Published by Order of the House of Peers. London: printed for Samuel Billingsley, in Chancery-Lane, MDCCLXV. [1765]. ESTC No. T150380. Grub Street ID 196190.