Publications of J. R.

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 J. R.

  • Sherlock, William. A practical discourse concerning death. By Will. Sherlock, ... London: printed by J. R. for D. Brown, J. Walthoe, J. Knapton, B. Tooke, R. Robinson, J. Pemberton, and T. Ward, 1718. ESTC No. N12016. Grub Street ID 2024.

Sold by J. R.

  • Cleveland, John. The rebellion of the rude multitude under Wat Tyler and his priests Baal and Straw, in the dayes of King Richard the IId, anno 1381. Parallel'd with the late rebellion in 1640, against King Charles I. of ever blessed memory. By a lover of his King and countrey. London: printed and sold by J. R. and in Westminster-Hall, and at the New Exchange, Fleelstreet [sic], and St. Pauls Church-Yard, [1660]. ESTC No. R223909. Grub Street ID 97663.

Printed for J. R.

  • Jacob, Hildebrand. Chiron to Achilles; a poem. London [i.e Edinburgh]: printed for J. R. [Thomas Ruddiman], 1732. ESTC No. N15067. Grub Street ID 4802.

Author

  • R., J.. The shepheards holy-day. A pastorall tragi-comædie. Acted before both their Maiesties at White-Hall, by the Queenes Servants. With an elegie on the death of the most noble lady, the Lady Venetia Digby. Written by J.R. London: Printed by N[icholas] and I[ohn] Okes, for Iohn Benson, and are to be sold at his shop in St. Dunstans Church-yard in Fleetstreet, 1635. ESTC No. S116288. Grub Street ID 135977.
  • R., J.. Thomson the great kild, or A perfect narrative of the totall routing of the Levellers neere VVellingborough towards Rutlandshire, where were taken all the whole party, with the desperate death of Captaine Thomson, also his last speech before his death; being a full relatio of all the proceedings betweene His Excellency the L. Fairfax and the Levellers since His Excellencies advance from London, Thursday May 10. to their routing and surprisall May, 21. VVith the particulars of that engagement, and the prisoners taken. Also his excellencies the Lord Generals letter to the Speaker concerning the same. Published by specially authority. London: printed for George Roberts dwelling on Snow-hill, 1649. ESTC No. R217712. Grub Street ID 92465.
  • R., J.. An elegie upon the death of the thrice noble generall, Richard Dean, who departed this life the 2d. of June, 1653. London: printed by Tho: Rycroft, and are to be sold by Tho: Jenner, at the Royall Exchange, 1653. ESTC No. R211546. Grub Street ID 87355.
  • R., J.. An exact and true relation of the great and mighty engagement between the English and Duch [sic] fleets, upon the coast of Holland; and the advancing of 24 of the chief Lords and noblemen of the United Provinces, to the several courts of admiralty. The setting up of the standard of the Netherlands: the resolution of their Lord Admiral De Witte, and his joyning with the French Fleet. The chaining up of the Dutch Harbors, the planting of the ordnance against the English; and all officers and souldiers to die without mercy, that shall dissert their colours. With the bearing up of the Lord General Monk, and 100 gallant men of war against them; their resolution to fight it out to the last man. The engaging of them near the Texel, the number sunk and taken; and the full particulars of the loss on both sides, with a list of the names of the captains, lieutenants, ensignes, masters, and others officers taken prisoners. Advertised by letters from the Navy, Sept. 3. 1653. and published by specia. London: printed for G.H., MDCLIII. [1653]. ESTC No. R207136. Grub Street ID 83558.
  • R., J.. The sad suffering case of Major General Rob. Overton, prisoner in the Isle of Jersey, stated, and presented to the serious consideration of those who are either of a pious or publick spirit. By J.R. London: printed for L. Chapman at the Crown in Popes-Head-Ally, 1659. ESTC No. R203341. Grub Street ID 80458.
  • R., J.. The valiant hearted sea-man; declaring a late skirmish fought between our English fleet and the dutch. Wherein the dutch was worsted, two of the Dutch ships sunk, and two taken as lawful prize, with a very small loss on our English side. The tune is, Lusty Stukely. London: printed for S. Tyus on London-bridge with allowance, [1665]. ESTC No. R182331. Grub Street ID 72545.
  • R., J.. A sermon preached at a visitation in Honiton in Devon, on Wensday [sic] in Easter week, 1676. By J.R. Rector of Lezant in Cornwall. London: printed, and are to be sold by Simon Miller at the Star at the west end of S. Pauls, [1676?]. ESTC No. R23078. Grub Street ID 103018.
  • R., J.. Vox laici: or, The layman's opinion touching the making alterations in our established liturgy, in answer to a letter from a member of the convocation. With some remarks on the (pretended) answer of Vox cleri by J.R. in a letter to a friend. London: printed, and are to be sold by the booksellers of London and Westminster, 1689. ESTC No. R31952. Grub Street ID 114702.
  • R., J.. An account of the state of London-Derry and Enneskelling, given by a captain lately come to Leverpool from the fleet in Derry river, and from thence sent to a citizen of Dublin now in London. Licensed, July 12th. 1689. J. F. London: printed for Ric. Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, MDCLXXXIX. [1689]. ESTC No. R182329. Grub Street ID 72543.
  • R., J.. A sermon preached at the assizes in Thetford in the county of Norfolk the 15th day of March 1692/3 by J.R. ... ; published at the special instance and command of the judges. Cambridge: Printed by John Hayes, Printer to the University, for Samuel Oliver, Bookseller in Norwich, 1693. ESTC No. R42572. Grub Street ID 123852.
  • R., J.. Pæedobaptismus vindicatus: or, Infant-baptism stated. In an essay to evidence its lawfulness from the testimony of Holy Scripture; especially St. Matthew, XXVIII. 19. the grand, if not sole place so much insisted on by the antipædobaptists, to prove their mistaken principle. Handled in a different method from other tracts on the subject, as appears in the contents. With an account of a conference publickly held with an antipædobaptist of no small fame. By J.R. A.M. a Presbyter of the Church of England. London: printed for John Dunton at the Raven in the Poultrey, M DC XCIII. [1693]. ESTC No. R6073. Grub Street ID 126448.
  • R., J.. Hanging, not punishment enough, for murtherers, high-way men, and house-breakers. Offered to the consideration of the two Houses of Parliament. By J. R. M.A. London: printed for A. Baldwin, 1701. ESTC No. N7271. Grub Street ID 52206.
  • R., J.. Hanging, not punishment enough, for murtherers, high-way men, and house-breakers. Offered to the consideration of the two Houses of Parliament. London: printed for A. Baldwin in Warwick-Lane, 1701. ESTC No. N7272. Grub Street ID 52207.
  • R., J.. Rules and rhetorick translated for the younger scholars in Bury school. By J.R. London: printed for Ralph Watson, and sold by Dan. Midwinter, 1705. ESTC No. N49139. Grub Street ID 33591.
  • R., J.. The Militia-Act considered: wherein the errors and imperfections thereof, are, particularly, pointed out and proved; and under each an amendment proposed, with reasons for supporting such amendment, ... Humbly addressed to both Houses of Parliament. By a gentleman of the law. In two parts. ... London: printed for and sold by H. Serjeant, J. Warcus, M. Kinsman, and J. Millan, and B. Tovey, 1757. ESTC No. N61388. Grub Street ID 44213.
  • R., J.. The Militia-Act considered: wherein the errors and imperfections thereof, are, particularly, pointed out and proved; and under each an amendment proposed, with reasons for supporting such amendment, ... Humbly addressed to both Houses of Parliament. By a gentleman of the law. In two parts. ... London: printed for and sold by H. Serjeant, J. Warcus, M. Kinsman, and J. Millan, and B. Tovey, 1757. ESTC No. T173105. Grub Street ID 210408.
  • R., J.. The life of the Right Honourable Sir John Holt, Knight, Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's-Bench; containing several arguments touching the rights and liberties of the people, delivered by His Lordship, with great Reason and remarkable Courage, upon most important Occasions, during the Reigns of their Majesties, King William the third, and Queen Anne; taken from the Report of the Lord Chief Justice Raymond, &c. And An Abstract of Lord Chief Justice Holt's Will, Codicils, &c. Also Points of Law, resolved by his Lordship, on Evidence, at Nisi Prius. With a table of references to all His Lordship's arguments and resolutions in the several volumes of reports. Never before published. Libertatis, ac Legum Anglicarum Assertor, Vindex, Custos, Vigilis, Acer, et Intrepidus. By a gentleman of the Inner-Temple. London: printed for the author, and sold by J. Worrall, at the Dove, in Dell-Yard, near Lincoln's-Inn, [1764]. ESTC No. T76862. Grub Street ID 299139.