Joseph Fox the First (1663–1746; fl. 1686–1746)
Joseph Fox I, bookseller at the Seven Stars in Westminster Hall; Half Moon and Seven Stars 1735–. (1686–1746 ); succeeded by son and partner Joseph Fox II.
A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725, by Henry Plomer (1922)
FOX (JOSEPH), bookseller in London, Seven Stars, Westminster Hall, 1686 (?)–1746. The following notice appeared in the General Advertiser of November 25th, 1746: "On Sunday morning [November 23rd] died in the 83rd year of his age, Mr. Joseph Fox, sen. who kept a bookseller's shop in Westminster Hall, upwards of sixty years. He was also eminent for sending written News Letters to most parts of the Three Kingdoms. He is succeeded in both parts of his business by his son, who has been partner with him these Twelve Years past." In the Term Catalogue of Hil. 1691, A. Roper and J. Fox entered a play called Sir Anthony Love, or the Rambling Lady, and two satires on Dr. W. Sherlock, The Weesils, and The Weesil Trap'd. [T.C. II. 347.] In 1696 he sold for the author James Whieston's Englands Calamities Discover'd ... [Haz. IV. 176.] Fox also had a shop in Tunbridge Wells during the season there.
Notes & Queries "London Booksellers Series" (1931–2)
FOX, JOSEPH. He was established at. the Seven Stars, near Westminster Hall, as early as 1688, and possibly before. He died on Nov. 23, 1746, apparently while still in business, and the General Advertiser of two days later declared in his obituary notice, that he had "kept a bookseller's shop in Westminster Hall upwards of sixty years." In 1741 he co-operated with E. Withers in the production of 'The Universal Pocket Companion.'
—Frederick T. Wood, 15 August, 1931