Publications of John Smith

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).

Sold by John Smith

  • Child, Samuel. Every man his own brewer, a small treatise, explaining the art and mystery of brewing porter, ale, twopenny and table-beer, recommending and proving the case and possibility, of every man's brewing his own beer, in any quantity From one Peck to a hundred Quarters of Malt. Calculated by exposing the deception in brewing, To reduce the Expence of a Family, and lessen the destructive practice of Public-House tipling. By Samuel Child, Brewer. Some Coopers attempt to extend their Art, so far as to add Strength to the Beer; but let it be remembered, that the Principal Constituent Parts of Beer, should be Malt and Hops; when strength is given to the Liquor by any other means, its Nature is altered, and it is no more Beer that we drink. Combrune's theory of Brewing. London: printed, for the author, No. 15, Little Compton-Street, Soho; and sold by, H. D. Symonds, No. 20, Paternoster-Row; J. Ridgeway, No. 1, York-Street, St. James's-Square; J. Smith, No. 1, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, [1790?]. ESTC No. T61582. Grub Street ID 287280.
  • Harrison, John. A letter to the Right Hon. Henry Dundas, M. P. Secretary of State, &c. &c. or, an appeal to the people of Great-Britain, being An answer to some Reflections cast upon "a Citizen, whose Loyalty (it was said) was "only confined to his Razor!" In a debate in the House of Commons, February 21st, 1794, Occasioned by an intercepted Letter, Signed J. Harrison, A Sans Culotte, to which is added, an abstract of A Trial for an Assault committed on the Author, in the Name of "church and King for Ever." By Citizen John Harrison, Sheffield. London: printed for the author, and sold by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street Lincoln's-Inn. Fields; D. I. Eaton, Newgate-Street; and may be had of all Booksellers in Town and Country. - 1794. ESTC No. T38374. Grub Street ID 267852.
  • Parkinson, James. A vindication of the London Corresponding Society. London: printed by order of the Society, and sold by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln-Inn-Fields, and J. Burks, No. 52, Crispin-Street, Spitalfields, [1794]. ESTC No. T50867. Grub Street ID 278406.
  • Habeas corpus act. Serious consequences attending the suspension of the Habeas corpus Act. Exemplified in the case of Thomas Humphreys Blacksmith, near Blackfriars-Bridge, taken up on false information, and examined before the privy council at Whitehall, and afterwards before the justices at Union-Hall, Southwark. London: printed for the information of the public. Sold by Smith, No. 1, Corner of Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn fields. September, 1794. ESTC No. T166542. Grub Street ID 204762.
  • Perry, S. Oppression!!! The appeal of Captain Perry, (late editor of the Argus,) to the people of England; containing a justification of his principles and conduct which have rendered him obnoxious to ministerial tyranny; with a few remarks on the people of france, to refute the base calumnies of those interested in this ruinous crusade against the liberty and happiness of man. To which is added a developement of some of the mysteries of the spy trade, proving the detestable iniquity of the practice, and the necessity of its immediate abolition. London: printed for Citizen Lee, at the British tree of liberty, No. 47, Haymarket: sold likewise by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; J.S. Jordan, Fleet-Street; and H.D. Symonds, Pater-Noster-Row, 1795. ESTC No. T43301. Grub Street ID 271881.
  • Gerrald a fragment, containing some account of the life of this devoted citizen, Who was sent as a delegate to the British Convention, at Edinburgh, by the London Corresponding Society, For acting in which Capacity, he is now Transported to Botany Bay for Fourteen Years!!!. London: printed for the author, and sold by, John Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields; who is just discharged from Newgate, after having been detained there for seven months, on a supposed charge of High Treason. Entered at Stationer's Hall, [1795?]. ESTC No. T40801. Grub Street ID 269835.
  • A political dictionary for the guinea-less pigs, or, a glossary of emphatical words made use of by that jewel of a man, Deep Will. In his administration, and his plans for yoking and putting rings in the snouts of those grumbling swine, who raise such Horrid Grunting, when Tyrannical winds blow high. [London]: Printed for the author: and sold by J. Burks, No. 74, Sun-Street, Bishopsgate; J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields; D. I. Eaton, Newgate-Street; Lee, 444, Strand; T. Spence, Turnstile; A. Seale, No. 11, Cumberland-Street, Middlesex Hospital; F. Place, No. 13, Back of St. Clement's; T. G. Ballard, No. 3, Bedford Court, Covent Garden; F. Ward, No. 41, Dean-Street, Westminster; and J. Baker, No. 30, Sutton-Street, Crown-Street, Soho, [1795?]. ESTC No. T43959. Grub Street ID 272447.
  • Thelwall, John. Political lectures. Volume the first - part the first: containing the lecture on spies and informers, and the first lecture on prosecutions for political opinion. To which is prefixed a narrative of facts relative to the recent attempts to wrest from the people the palladium of their natural and constitutional rights, liberty of speech. By John Thelwall. London: printed for the author; and sold by Eaton, Newgate-Stret; Smith, Portsmouth-Street; and at the lecture-room, Beaufort-Buildings, Strand, [1795]. ESTC No. T43964. Grub Street ID 272452.
  • The Tribune, a periodical publication, consisting chiefly of the political lectures of J. Thelwall. London [England]: printed for the author, and sold at the lecture-room, Beaufort-Buildings: and by the following booksellers: D.I. Eaton, Newgate-Street: Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; and Burks, Crispin-Street, Spitalfields, 1795-1796. ESTC No. P5964. Grub Street ID 57747.
  • The correspondence of the London Corresponding Society revised and corrected, with explanatory notes and a prefatory letter, by the Committee of Arrangement, Deputed For That Purpose: published for the use of members, Pursuant To The 17th Article Of The Society's Regulations. London: printed by order of the London Corresponding Society, and sold by Smith, at the Pop-Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn-Fields; Eaton, Cock and Swine Newgate-Street; Ridgway, York-Street, St. James's-Square; Symonds, Paternoster-Row; Jordan, Fleet-Street; Ballard, Little May's-Buildings, Bedford-Street, Covent Garden; Lee, No. 444, Strand; Ribeau, and Griffith, Strand; Phelps, Angel-Street, St. Martin's-le-Grand; Spence, Turnstile, Holborn; the secretary, J. Ashley, Fisher-Street, Red-Lion-Square: and by the delegates of the divisions, [1795]. ESTC No. N15288. Grub Street ID 5013.
  • Lennox, Charles, 3rd Duke of Richmond. A letter from His Grace the Duke of Richmond to Lieutenant Colonel Sharman. Chairman to the Committee of Correspondence appointed by the delegates of forty-five corps of volunteers. Assembled at Lisburn in Ireland. With notes by a member of the Society for Constitutional Information. London: Sold by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, now a prisoner in Newgate, on a charge of high treason, and J. Burks, No. 52, Crispin-Street, Spital-Fields; J. Bone, No. 8, Weston-Street, Snows-Fields; And all Booksellers in Town and Country, 1795. ESTC No. T37889. Grub Street ID 267424.
  • Reid, William Hamilton. Ghost-craft authorized by Church and state-craft!!! A patriotic ballad, by William Hamilton Reid. Tune "Hum hum hum." Occasioned by the recent detection of two female spectres in a nocturnal visit to a church-yard near Old-Street. [London]: (Entered at Stationer's-Hall.) And sold by J. Burks Crispin-Street, T. Smith Portsmouth-Street, and at the pamphlet-shops, in general, [1795?]. ESTC No. T207148. Grub Street ID 236453.
  • Stanhope, Charles Stanhope. Earl Stanhope's protest. House of Lords, Tuesday, January 6, 1795. After making the following motion. London: sold by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. and J. Burks, No. 52, Crispin-Street, Spital-Fields, [1795]. ESTC No. T32373. Grub Street ID 263088.
  • Iliff, Edward Henry. A summary of the duties of citizenship! Written expressly for the members of the London Corresponding Society; including observations on the contemptuous neglect of the Secretary of State, with regard to their late address to the king!. London: sold by R. Lee, No. 444, Strand, opposite Buckingham-Street; D. I. Eaton, No. 74, Newgate-Street; G. Riebau, 439, Strand; J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields; and J. Burks, Sun-Street, Bishopsgate-Street, [1795]. ESTC No. T48835. Grub Street ID 276665.
  • Price, Richard. Observations on the nature of civil liberty, and the principles of government, from Dr. Price's much esteemed and popular essay, published anno 1776. With the Declaration of principles, and regulations of the Friends of Liberty, United for Promoting Constitutional Information, The only Means by which A Reduction of Taxes, and the Enormous Price of Provisions can be Obtained; Or Unjust and Unnecessary Wars Prevented. [London]: Printed by order of the society, and sold by Joyce and Toone, King-Street, Bloomsbury, Eaton Newgate Street, Lee Haymarket,, Ballard Bedford Court, Bedford Street, Covent Garden; Riebau Strand; Burks, Crispin-Street, Spitalfields; Boag, Turnstile, Holborn; Spence Little Turnstile Holborn; Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; R. Phillips, Leicester, 1795?]. ESTC No. N12494. Grub Street ID 2493.
  • Songs from the rock, to hail the approaching day, sacred to truth, liberty and peace. To which is added, the tribute of civic gratitude; a congratulatory address to Thomas Hardy. By the author of Flowers from Sharon. London: sold by Jordan, Fleet-Street; Crosby, Stationer's Court; Symonds and Parsons, Paternoster-Row; Eaton, Newgate-Street; Spence, Little Turnstile, Holborn; and Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, [1795]. ESTC No. T125150. Grub Street ID 175313.
  • Warren, John. Proceedings on the trial of the Bishop of Bangor, and others, at the assizes, held at Shrewsbury, on Tuesday, July 26, 1796, before Mr. Justice Heath, on an indictment for an assault and riot. London: printed for T. G. Ballard, No. 7, Little May's Buildings, Bedford-Street. Sold likewise by J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, and Parsons, Paternoster-Row, [1796]. ESTC No. N25514. Grub Street ID 14867.
  • Thelwall, John. Prospectus of a course of lectures, to be delivered every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, during the ensuing lent. In strict conformity with the restrictions of Mr. Pitt's Convention Act. By John Thelwall. London: sold at the lecture-room, Beaufort-Buildings; at Symond's, Paternoster-Row; Eaton's, Newgate-Street; and Smith's, Portsmouth-Street, Feb. 2, [1796]. ESTC No. T46020. Grub Street ID 274221.
  • Hodgson, William. The case of William Hodgson, now confined in Newgate, for the payment of two hundred pounds, after having suffered two years' imprisonment on a charge of sedition, considered and compared with the existing laws of the country. By himself. London: printed for the author; and sold by Daniel Isaac Eaton, at the Cock and Swine, Newgate-Street; John Smith, at the Pop Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; and all the booksellers, [1796]. ESTC No. T111026. Grub Street ID 163496.

Printed for John Smith

  • Key to the prophecies, a poem, intended as an appendix to a serious lecture, delivered at Sheffield on the fast day, February 28, 1794. London: printed for J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; and sold by all the booksellers in town and country -1794, 1794. ESTC No. T224235. Grub Street ID 246521.
  • Assassination of the King! The conspirators exposed, or, an account of the apprehension, treatment in prison, and repeated examinations before the Privy Council, of John Smith and George Higgins, on a charge of high treason: with exact copies of the warrants of commitment, discharge, letters, &c. &c. to which is added, a letter from Mr. Parkinson, containing The Particulars of his Examination before the Privy-Council, and of his Intercourse with Ministry on the above Business. London: printed for J. Smith, at the Pop-Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. 1795. (entered at Stationer's Hall.), [1795]. ESTC No. T22543. Grub Street ID 247322.
  • An account of the proceedings on a charge of high treason against John Martin, author of the following works: 1. An inquiry into the state of the legal and judicial polity of Scotland. 6s. Johnson. 2. A letter to the Earl of Lauderdale. 2s. 6d. Ridgway. London: printed for Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields; and Burks, Crispin-Street, Spitalfields, 1795. ESTC No. N14649. Grub Street ID 4439.
  • Assassination of the King! The conspirators exposed, or, an account of the apprehension, treatment in prison, and repeated examinations before the Privy Council, of John Smith and George Higgins, on a charge of high treason: with exact copies of the warrants of commitment, discharge, letters, &c. &c. to which is added, a letter from Mr. Parkinson, containing The Particulars of his Examination before the Privy-Council, and of his Intercourse with Ministry on the above Business. London: printed for J. Smith, at the Pop-Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1795. ESTC No. T183944. Grub Street ID 220304.
  • Frend, William. Scarcity of bread. A plan for reducing the high price of this article, in a letter addressed by William Frend, to William Devaynes, Esq. Chairman of the Meeting at the London Tavern July 14, to consider of the present high price of Provisions. London: printed for J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, [1795]. ESTC No. T171479. Grub Street ID 209096.
  • Fox, Charles James. Westminster election. Speeches (out of Parliament) addressed to the electors of the city of Westminster by the respective candidates for their suffrages to represent them in the ensuing Parliament; the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. John Horne Tooke, Esq. Sir Alan Gardner, Bart. Impartially taken as delivered each Day from the Beginning of the Election to the End. With the correct Numbers that polled each Day, from May 25, to June 13. [London]: Printed for J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, [1796]. ESTC No. N25784. Grub Street ID 15141.
  • Friend to Liberty and Peace.. An address to the English nation; with a slight sketch of the existing grievances, and a recommendation to petition with vigour, as a means of obtaining a repeal of Pitt and Grenville's bills. London: printed for J. Smith, at the Pop-Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, 1796. ESTC No. T20421. Grub Street ID 234535.
  • Jones, John Gale. Sketch of a political tour through Rochester, Chatham, Maidstone, Gravesend, &c. including reflections on the tempers and dispositions of the inhabitants of those places, and on the progress of the societies instituted for the purpose of obtaining a parliamentary reform. By John Gale Jones. Part the first. London: printed for J. S. Jordan, No. 166, Fleet-Street, and J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, [1796]. ESTC No. T48412. Grub Street ID 276310.
  • Westminster election. Speeches (out of Parliament) addressed to the electors of the city of Westminster by the respective candidates for their suffrages to represent them in the ensuing Parliament; the Right Hon. Charles James Fox. John Horne Tooke, Esq. Sir Alan Gardner, Bart. Impartially taken as delivered each Day from the Beginning of the Election to the End. [London]: Printed for J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields; and sold by all booksellers in town and country, [1796]. ESTC No. T58173. Grub Street ID 284327.
  • Westminster election. Speeches (out of Parliament) addressed to the electors of the city of Westminster by the respective candidates ... The Right Hon. Charles James Fox. John Horne Tooke, Esq. Sir Alan Gardner, Bart. ... With the correct numbers that polled each day, ... Together with an account of the public meeting of the friends of J. Horne Tooke, ... on Tuesday, June 28, 1796. [London]: Printed for J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's-Inn Fields, [1796]. ESTC No. T80380. Grub Street ID 301489.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by John Smith

  • Member.. An account of the proceedings of the British Convention: Held in Edinburgh, the 19th of November, 1793. By a Member. London: printed and sold by D.I. Eaton, Newgate-Street; I. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn-Square; and all the patriotic booksellers in Great Britain, [1794]. ESTC No. T6276. Grub Street ID 288181.
  • Holland, William. The Englishman's duty to contend for his birthright. A sermon, preached at the chapel, in Gee-Street, Goswell-Street, November 4th. 1795. Being the anniversary of the glorious revolution, 1688. By the Rev. William Holland, Minister of that Chapel, and Master of the Academy there. Taken in short hand by Job Sibly. [London]: Printed for and sold by J. Burks, No. 74, Sun-Street, Bishopsgate; J. Smith, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln-Inn Field; D. I. Eaton; No. 74, Newgate-Street; Lee, 444, Strand; T. Spence, Turn-Stile; A. Serle, No. 11, Cumberland Street, Middlesex, Hospital; F. Place, No. 13, Back of St. Clement; T. G. Ballard, No. 3 Bedford Court, Covent Garden; F. Ward, No. 41, Dean Street Westminster; and J. Baker, No. 30, Sutton-Street, Crown-Street, Soho, [1795]. ESTC No. T154416. Grub Street ID 198536.

Author

  • Smith, John. The trial of John Smith, bookseller, of Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, before Lord Kenyon, in the Court of King's Bench, Westminster, on December 6, 1796, for selling a work, entitled, 'A summary of the duties of citizenship.'. London: printed for and sold by Mrs. Smith, at the Pop-Gun, Portsmouth-Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, [1797?]. ESTC No. N13788. Grub Street ID 3687.