Publications of Thomas Newcomb

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: and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

On this last point, trade publishers such as Mary Cooper appeared in imprints as having "printed" or "published" the work, though they did not own the copyright. The lists below reflect only the information on the imprint, except where ESTC provides extra information.

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 Thomas Newcomb

  • Gauden, John. Eikōn basilikē. The pourtracture of His sacred Majestie in his solitudes and sufferings. With a perfect copy of prayers used by His Majesty in the time of his sufferings. Delivered to Dr. Juxon Bishop of London, immediately before his death. Printed at London: [by Thomas Newcomb], 1649. ESTC No. R40394. Grub Street ID 122190.
  • Descartes, René. A discourse of a method, for the well-guiding of reason, and the discovery of truth in the sciences. London: printed by Thomas Newcombe, for John Holden at the Anchour in the new Exchange, 1649. ESTC No. R209910. Grub Street ID 86129.
  • Hall, Joseph. The balm of Gilead or, Comforts for the distressed; both morall and divine. Most fit for these woful times. By Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N. London: printed by Thomas Newcomb; and are to be sold by John Holden, at the blue-Anchor in the New-Exchange, 1650. ESTC No. R14503. Grub Street ID 62519.
  • The rise & fall of the late eminent and powerful favorite of Spain, the Count Olivares. The unparallel'd imposture of Michael de Molina executed at Madrid in the year, 1641. The right and title of the present King of Portugal Don John the fourth; with the most memorable passages of his reign unto the year 1644. Translated out of the Italian, Spanish, and Portugez, by Edw: Chamberlayne, Gent. London: printed by T[homas]: N[ewcomb]: for Thomas heath at his shop in Russell-street, near the Piazza's of Covent-Garden, 1652. ESTC No. R182736. Grub Street ID 72712.
  • Paracelsus. Medicina diastatica or Sympatheticall mumie: containing, many mysterious and hidden secrets in philosophy and physick. By the construction extraction transplantation and application of microcosmical & spiritual mumie. Teaching the magneticall cure of diseases at distance, &c. Abstracted from the works of Dr. Theophr. Paracelsus: by the labour and industry of Andrea Tentzelius, Phil. & Med. Translated out of the Latine by Ferdinando Parkhurst, Gent. London: printed by T[homas]. Newcomb for T[homas]. Heath, and are to be sold at his shop in Russell-street, neer the Piazza's of Covent-Garden, 1653. ESTC No. R41864. Grub Street ID 123361.
  • The observator, with a summary of intelligence. London [England]: Printed by Tho[mas]. Newcomb in Thames-street, 1654. ESTC No. P1011. Grub Street ID 54886.
  • The publick intelligencer. Communicating the chief occurrences and proceedings within the dominions of England, Scotland, and Ireland: together with an account of affaires from severall parts of Europe. London [England]: printed by Thomas Newcomb living in Thames-street, over against Baynard's Castle, 1655-1660. ESTC No. P1070. Grub Street ID 54942.
  • Elys, Edmund. A just censure of a seditious pamphlet, entituled, The common-prayer book unmasked. By Edmund Elis Rector of East-Allington in Devon. London : printed by T[homas]. Newcomb, 1660. ESTC No. R179125. Grub Street ID 70675.
  • Smith, John. England's improvement reviv'd: in a treatise of all manner of husbandry & trade by land and sea. Plainly discovering the several ways of improveing all sorts of waste and barren grounds, and enriching all earths; with the natural quality of all lands, and the several seeds and plants which most naturally thrive therein. Together with the manner of planting all sorts of timber-trees, and under-woods, with two several chains to plaint seeds or sets by; with several directions to make walks, groves, orchards, gardens, planting of hops and good fences; with the vertue o trees, plants, and herbs, and their physical use; with an alphabet of all herbs growing in the kitchin, and physick-gardens; and physical directions. Also, the way of ordering cattel, with several observations about sheep, and choice of cows for the dairy, ... with many other remarks never before extant. Experienced in thirty years practise, and digested into six books, by John Smith, gent. Published for the common good. London : printed by Tho. Newcomb, for Benjamin Southwood, at the Star next to Sergeants-Inn in Chancery-lane; and Israel Harrison near Lincolns-Inn, 1673. ESTC No. R12577. Grub Street ID 60741.
  • The works of Sr William D'avenant Kt consisting of those which were formerly printed, and those which he design'd for the press: now published out of the authors originall copies. London : printed by T[homas]. N[ewcomb]. for Henry Herringman, at the signe of the Blew Anchor in the lower walk of the New Exchange, 1673. ESTC No. R10223. Grub Street ID 58615.
  • An humble proposal, whereby His Majesty may raise and extend his credit to the annual value of his revenue, without interest or damage to the kingdom. London] : In the Savoy, printed by Thomas Newcomb, 1673/4 [i.e. 1674. ESTC No. R10611. Grub Street ID 58964.
  • Madam Fickle: or the witty false one. A comedy. As it is acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's theatre. Written by Tho: Durfey Gent. Licensed November 20. 1676. Roger L'Estrange. London : printed by T[homas]. N[ewcombe]. for James Magnes and Rich. Bentley in Russel-street in Covent-garden near the Piazza's [sic], M.DC.LXXVII. [1677]. ESTC No. R35668. Grub Street ID 118043.
  • Fletcher, John. The elder brother: a comedy. As it is now acted at the Theatre Royal, by His Majesties Servants. Written by Francis Beaumont, & John Fletcher, Gent. London : printed by T[homas]. N[ewcombe]. for D[orman]. N[ewman]. and T[homas]. C[ockerill?]. and are to be sold by George Marriott, at the Sign of the Temple near the Inner Temple Gate in Fleetstreet, M.DC.LXXVIII. [1678]. ESTC No. R16592. Grub Street ID 64414.
  • Sandford, Francis. A genealogical history of the kings of England, and monarchs of Great Britain, &c. From the conquest, anno 1066. to the year, 1677. In seven parts or books. Containing a discourse of their several lives, marriages, and issues, times of birth, death, places of burial, and monumental inscriptions: with their effigies, seals, tombs, cenotaphs, devises, arms, quarterings, crests, and supporters; all engraven in copper plates. Furnished with several remarques and annotations. By Francis Sandford Esq; Lancaster Herald at Arms. London : printed by T[homas] N[ewcomb] for the author, and are to be sold by Richard Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in S. Paul's Church-Yard, M DC LXXXIII. [1683]. ESTC No. R217579. Grub Street ID 92349.

Printed for Thomas Newcomb

  • A list of the names of the knights citizens burgesses and barons of the cinque ports of England and Wales for the Parliament begun at Westminster the 25th. day of April, in the year 1660. as they were returned into the Crown Office. London: entred, and printed for Thomas Newcomb, John Starkey, and Robert Pawley, and are to be sold at the Rainbow in Fleetstreet, 1660. ESTC No. R232214. Grub Street ID 104058.
  • England and Wales. Parliament.. A list of both houses of Parliament, prorogued to the 26th of January, 1679. Note, that those that have this mark * after them, were not Members of the last Parliament. London : printed for Thomas Newcomb and John Starkey, and are to be sold at the Mitre within Temple-Bar, M. DC. LXXIX. [1679, i.e. 1680]. ESTC No. R612. Grub Street ID 126491.