Publications of Nathaniel Thompson

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 Nathaniel Thompson

  • White, Ambrose. An almanack and prognostication for the year of our Lord God, 1665. Being the first after the bissextile or leap-year, and from the creation of the world, 5614. Wherein is ordained the state of the whole year, the eclipses, lunations, conjunctions and aspects of the planets, the length, and increase and decrease of the days and nights, with the rising and setting of the sun for every day of the year. Calculated according to art, and referred to the horizon of the ancient and renowned city of Dublin, where the vertex is distant from the equater 53. degrees 20. min. and longitude is 16. degrees 40. min. By Ambrose White. Dublin: printed by N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. for Robert Howes bookseller in Castle-street, anno Domini, 1665. ESTC No. R170273. Grub Street ID 65002.
  • Plato. Plato his Apology of Socrates, and Phædo or Dialogue concerning the immortality of mans soul, and manner of Socrates his death: carefully translated from the Greek, and illustrated by reflections upon both the Athenian laws, and ancient rites and traditions concerning the soul, therein mentioned. London: printed by T[homas]. R[adcliffe]. & N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. for James Magnes and Richard Bentley at the post-office in Russel-street in Covent-Garden, 1675. ESTC No. R12767. Grub Street ID 60915.
  • A congratulatory poem on the safe arrival of His Grace James Duke of Monmovth, at Utretch, on Saturday Sept. 27. 1679. London: printed by Nat[haniel]. Thompson at the Cross Keys in Fetter-lane, MDCLXXIX. [1679]. ESTC No. R221063. Grub Street ID 95276.
  • The cloak in its colours; or The Presbyterian unmasked, and proved as dangerous as papists to the Church of England. Together with a brief and seasonable ansvver to their late unseasonable queries, and list of the pensioners, humbly offer'd to all true Protestant conformists. London: printed by N. T[hompson]., anno Dom. 1679. ESTC No. R231533. Grub Street ID 103566.
  • The True domestick intelligence, or, News both from city & country. London [England]: printed by Nathaniel Thompson, [1679-1680]. ESTC No. P1485. Grub Street ID 55285.
  • Petyt, William. Miscellanea parliamentaria: containing presidents 1. Of freedom from arrests. 2. Of censures. 1. Upon such as have wrote books to the dishonour of the Lords or Commons, or to alter the constitution of the government. 2. Upon Members for misdemeanours. 3. Upon persons not Members, for contempts and misdemeanours. 4. For misdemeanours in elections. Besides other presidents and orders of a various nature, both of the House of Lords and Commons. With an appendix, containing several instances wherein the kings of England have consulted and advised with their parliaments, 1. In marriages. 2. Peace and war. 3. Leagues. And other weighty affairs of the kingdom. By William Petyt of the Inner-Temple, Esq;. London: printed by N. Thompson, for T. Basset at the George, and J. Wickins at the White Hart in Fleetstreet, 1680. ESTC No. R15174. Grub Street ID 63132.
  • Andrews, William. News from the stars: or, An ephemeris for the year 1680. With astrological judgments upon the several eclipses, positions, and configurations of heaven happening therein. Being the bissextile, or leap-year: and from the creation of the world, 5629 years. Wherein you have a perfect and brief account of the most material matters and things intended by the heavens to be manifested in the world in the same year. By William Andrews, student in astrogoly [sic]. London: printed by N. Thompson for the Company of Stationers, [1680]. ESTC No. R14380. Grub Street ID 62406.
  • Sincere well-wisher to the old Protestant religion.. Five important queries humbly propounded to all true lovers of the peace and safety of the church and state. By a sincere well-wisher to the old Protestant religion. London: printed by Nathaniel Thompson next dore to the Cross Keys in Fetter-Lane, MDCLXXXI. [1681]. ESTC No. R10898. Grub Street ID 59235.
  • Dowell, John. The clergies honour: or, the lives of St. Basil the Great, Archbishop of Neo-cæsarea, and St. Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople. Drawn by way of parallel. London: printed by Nat. Thompson, for William Cooper at the Pelican in Little-Britain, 1682. ESTC No. R174721. Grub Street ID 67830.
  • The broken merchants complaint: represented in a dialogue between a scrivener and a banker on the Royal-Exchange of London. [S.l.]: Printed by Nat. T[hompson]. at the Entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, MDCLXXXIII [1683]. ESTC No. R12211. Grub Street ID 60421.
  • Murder out at last, in a ballad on the new plot. To the tune of, Hey boys up go we. [London]: Printed by N. T[hompson]. at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden, near Charing-Cross, 1683. ESTC No. R16149. Grub Street ID 64030.
  • A new-years guift to the Templers, on that eminent lawyer Sir Edmond Saunders, his being chosen Lord Chief-Justice of England. When ploting knaves from justice fly away, then loyal Templers shall come into play; when rogues, and traytors, dare not shew their face, then honest men again shall come in place. To the tune of, Joy to the bridegroom. [London]: Printed by Nat. Thompson at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden, near Charing-Cross, [1683]. ESTC No. R10125. Grub Street ID 58522.
  • The Loyal Protestant, and True domestick intelligence, or, News from both city and countrey. London [England]: printed by Nath. Thompson next the Cross Keys in Fetter-lane, 1681-1682/3. [i.e. 1683]. ESTC No. P1458. Grub Street ID 55262.
  • Tangiers lamentation, on the demolishing and blowing-up of the town, castle and citadel, November the 5th. anno Domini MDCLXXXIII. To the tune of Tangier March. [London]: Printed by N[athaniel]. Thompson at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden, 1683. ESTC No. R184862. Grub Street ID 74232.
  • Hewetson, Michael. Ireland's tears. To the sacred memory of our late dread soveraign King Charles II. [[London]: printed by Nath. Thompson, at the entrance into the Old-Sprint-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1685]. ESTC No. R10005. Grub Street ID 58405.
  • The description of the coronation of His Sacred Majesty K. James II. And his illustrious consort Queen Mary. Celebrated on the 23th day of April, 1685. With a brief account of the famous fire-works, which were upon the Thames, April the 24th. A poem. London: printed by Nathan. Thompson .., 1685. ESTC No. R20208. Grub Street ID 79348.
  • A true and exact account of a famous new prophet now residing at Alair a city in Ægypt. Sent in a letter to a friend in London. London: printed by N[athaniel]. T[hompson]., 1687. ESTC No. R185487. Grub Street ID 74537.
  • A manual of devout prayers and devotions, fitted for all persons & occasions. With divers choice, select pray. ers [sic] before and after confession and communion. And an examen of conscience. To which is aded [sic] The rosary both Latine & English, Prayers to the B. Virgin Mary, The prayers of S. Bridget, &c. and several other most devout prayers to our blesse redeemer. Also The Vespers, or Even-Song, in Latine & English, as it is sung in all Cath. Ch. [London]: Printed by N[athaniel]. Thompson, 1687. ESTC No. R180306. Grub Street ID 71405.

Sold by Nathaniel Thompson

  • S., W.. A letter to Mr. Settle, occasioned by his late famous recanting and Plot-ridiculing Narrative. [London]: Printed and sold by N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Chearing-Cross, 1683. ESTC No. R8321. Grub Street ID 128508.
  • A perswasive to all dissenters to untiy in religion, as it is establish'd in the Church of England. [London]: Printed and sold by N. Thompson at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1684. ESTC No. R230755. Grub Street ID 102998.
  • A pastoral upon the death of Her Grace the Dutchess of Ormond. [[London]: Printed and sold by N. Thompson, at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1684]. ESTC No. R18349. Grub Street ID 73333.
  • On the death of Sir Tho. Armstrong; in ansvver to a late treasonable libel dispers'd by the factions. [London]: Printed and sold by Nath. Thompson at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1684. ESTC No. R224205. Grub Street ID 97918.

Printed for Nathaniel Thompson

  • News from Jamaica, or, a description of the pleasure, plenty, and profit, which the inhabitants enjoy in that famous island. Dedicated to the honourable the Lord Vaughan, now governour there. London: printed for N[athaniel]. T[hompson?]., anno Dom. 1677. ESTC No. R180928. Grub Street ID 71759.
  • A full and exact relation of two old men aged above a thousand years, coming invisibly into the great city of Tholouze in France, from Damascus in Galilea; going in a most miraculous habit, preaching up and down the city, and exhorting them to repentance and pennance, an telling them that their city shall be destroy'd by fire if they do not repent. How several Jesuits disputed with them in prison, in the Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Chaldean tongues. Also, how their irons dropt off from their legs in the streets when they were chained. With their infallible fortelling the day of doom to be in the year of our Lord, 1690. In a letter to a friend in London. London: Printed for N. Thompson, MDCLXXX [1680]. ESTC No. R16347. Grub Street ID 64210.
  • English loyalty vindicated by the French divines; or, A declaration and subscription of threescore doctors of Sorbonne, for the oath of allegiance, as it was originally deliver'd by them in Latin. Faithfully done in English, by W.H. London: printed for Nath. Thompson next to the Cross-Keys in Fetter-Lane, MDCLXXXI. [1681]. ESTC No. R15302. Grub Street ID 63248.
  • A sermon preached on January the 1st. 1680[/]1. In the new church at Port-Royal in Jamaica, being the first time of performing divine service there. Published at the request of Sir Henry Morgan, and other gentlemen, by whose liberal contribution the said church was erected. By J. L. LL. B. London: printed for Nathaniel Thompson, 1681. ESTC No. R227275. Grub Street ID 100183.
  • The Tory ballad on Their Royal Highnesses return from Scotland. To the tune of, The Prince of Orange's delight. London: printed for Nath. Thompson, MDCLXXXII [1682]. ESTC No. R20402. Grub Street ID 81047.
  • A hue and cry after Tory-honesty, in a dialogue between a Whiggish and a Tory evidence. London: printed for N[athaniel]. T[hompson]., 1682. ESTC No. R14617. Grub Street ID 62629.
  • The judgement of the court of Kings-Bench, truly Englished from the record thereof, as it was pronounced, and there enter'd against Miles Prance, for his horrid perjury in the evidence he gave at the tryals of Green, Berry, & Hill, relating to the death of Sir Edmond-Bury-Godfrey, Tuesday next after fifteen days of the Holy Trinity, in the second year of the reign of King James the Second, (viz.) Tuesday 15 die Junii, 1686. [London]: Printed for N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden 1686. ESTC No. R179076. Grub Street ID 70642.
  • Manby, Peter. The considerations which obliged Peter Manby dean of Derry to embrace the Catholique religion. Dedicated to His Grace the Lord Primate of Ireland. Dublin Castle the 11th. of March 1686/7. This following discourse is allowed to be printed. Tho: Sheridan. London: printed for Nathaniel Thompson at the entrance into the Old Spring Garden, 1687. ESTC No. R224098. Grub Street ID 97819.

Author

  • Thompson, Nathaniel. A letter written from Oxford by Mr. Stephen Colledge to his friends in London, &c. Written by himself, immediately after his condemnation. London: printed by N.T., anno Dom. 1681. ESTC No. R33356. Grub Street ID 115988.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. The tryal of Nathanael Thompson, John Farewell, William Pain, before the Right Honourable Sir Fran. Pemberton Kt. Lord Chief Justice of England, by nisi prius. At Guild-Hall, London, the twentieth of June, 1682. For writing, and publishing, scandalous letters to Mr. Mile Prance, in relation to the death of Sir Edmund-Bury Godfrey. London: printed for William Mason, 1682. ESTC No. R22848. Grub Street ID 101154.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. The loyal feast, design'd to be kept in Haberdashers-Hall, on Friday the 21st. of April 1682. by His Majesties most loyal true blue Protestant subjects; and how it was defeated. The Whigs from north to south, from west to east, did all contribute to a loyal feast; to thi great work a guiney was the least. They clear'd the stalls of fish, flesh, fowl and beast, where Tony and brave Perkin was a guest, but what succeeded this, makes up the jest. To the tune of, Sawney will never be my love again. London: printed for Allen Banks, MDCLXXXII. [1682]. ESTC No. R4036. Grub Street ID 122164.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. The tryal of Nathaniel Thompson, William Pain, and John Farwell. Upon an information exhibited by the Kings Attorny General against them, for writing, printing and publishing libels, by way of letters and other prints, reflecting upon the justice of the nation, in the proceedings against the murderers of Sir Edmond-bury Godfrey. At Guild-hal on Tuesday June the 20th. 1682. Where after a full hearing they were convicted. Together with an accompt of several affidavits read in His Majesties Court of Kings Bench and other matters at the time of their receiving sentence. To which is added by way of appendix, several other affidavits which further confirm the testimony of Mr. Prance, given upon the tryal of Green, Berry and Hill about that murder, with some observations touching the said Thompson, Farwell and Pain. London: printed for Thomas Simmons at the Princes Arms in Ludgate Street, 1682. ESTC No. R18230. Grub Street ID 72527.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. A choice collection of 120 loyal songs, all of them written since the two late plots, (viz.) the horrid Salamanca Plot in 1678, and the fanatical conspiracy in 1683. Intermixt with some new love songs with a table to find every song to which is added, an anagram, and an accrostick on the Salamanca doctor. London: printed by N.T. at the entrance into the Old Spring Garden near Charing-Cross, 1684. ESTC No. R221730. Grub Street ID 95835.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. An account of the proceedings against Nathaniel Thomson, upon his tryal at the Kings Bench-Bar Westminster, who was tryed, and found guilty on Wednesday the 26th of November 1684. for printing a dangerous and seditious libel, intitled the Prodigal return'd home, assertin the Popes supremacy in ecclesiastical affaires, &c. London: printed for A. Banks, 1684. ESTC No. R209740. Grub Street ID 85968.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. A collection of 86 loyal poems, all of them written upon the two late plots, viz, the horrid Salamanca plot in 1678. and the present fanatical conspiracy in 1683: to which is added, advice to the carver, written on the death of the late L. Stafford with several poems on their Majesties coronation, never before published. Collected by N.T. [London]: Printed by N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1685. ESTC No. R19822. Grub Street ID 77385.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. A choice collection of 180 loyal songs, all of them written since the two late plots (viz.) the horrid Salananca plot in 1678. and the fanatical conspiracy in 1683. Intermixt with some new love songs. With a table to find every song. To which is added the musical notes t each song. London: printed by N[athaniel]. T[hompson]. at the entrance into the Old-Spring-Garden near Charing-Cross, 1685. ESTC No. R33828. Grub Street ID 116397.
  • Thompson, Nathaniel. A choice collection of one hundred and eighty loyal songs, all written since 1678. And intermixt with several new love songs. To which is added, the notes set by several masters of musick. With a table to find every song. London: printed, and are to be sold by Richard Butt, in Princess-street in Covent-Garden, 1694. ESTC No. R224050. Grub Street ID 97778.