Publications of William Abbington

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 William Abbington

  • A discourse of the repugnancy of sin to the principles of universal reason. Being a dissuasive from a sinful life from principles of common wisdom, currant amongst all mankind, save onely in the concerns of their souls. London: printed, and are to be sold by Edward Millington at the Bible in Little-Britain, and William Abington at the Black Spread Eagle at the West-End of S. Pauls, 1679. ESTC No. R31332. Grub Street ID 114133.
  • Baxter, Richard. Imputative righteousnes truly stated, according to the tenour of the Gospel: Manifesting, in what sence found Protestants hold it: and in what sence libertines pervert it. By Richard Baxter, a compassionat lamenter of the churches wounds. London: printed by J.D. and are to be sold by Jonathan Robinson, at the Golden Lion in St. Paul's Church-Yard, and William Abington, at the black-spread Eagle at the west end of St. Paul's, 1679. ESTC No. R6916. Grub Street ID 127216.
  • Causæ veteris epitaphium, in antecessum, ab anonymo autore scriptum. ... [Paganopoli [i.e. London]: excudebat Utis Homericus Redivivus, cum privilegio S. Cæsareæ plebeiorum Majestatis. Prostant autem venales in officinâ Gulielmi Abington, in vico vulgo dicto Ludgate, [1682]]. ESTC No. R36285. Grub Street ID 118581.
  • Varenius, Bernhardus. Cosmography and geography in two parts: the first, containing the general and absolute part of cosmography and geography, being a translation from that eminent and much esteemed geographer Varenius, wherein are at large handled all such arts as are necessary to be understood for the true knowledge thereof. To which is added the much wanted schemes omitted by the author. The second part, being a geographical description of all the world, taken from the notes and works of the famous Monsieur Sanson late geographer to the French King. To which are added about an hundred cosmographical, geographical and hydrographical tables of several kingdoms and isles of the world, with their chief cities, sea-ports, bays, &c. drawn from the maps of the said Sanson. Illustrated with maps. London: printed by S. Roycroft, and are to be sold by William Abington at the Three Silk-worms in Ludgate-street, MDCLXXXIII. [1683]. ESTC No. R219842. Grub Street ID 94320.
  • Carlingford, Francis Taaffe. Count Taaffe's letters from the imperial camp, to his brother the Earl of Carlingford here in London: giving an account of the most considerable actions, both before, and at, the raising of the siege at Vienna, together with several remarkable passages afterward, in the victorious campagne against the Turks in Hungary. With an addition of two other letters from a young English nobleman, a voluntier in the imperial army. London: printed for T.B. and are to be sold by William Abbington, near the Wonder Tavern on Lud-gate-Hill, 1684. ESTC No. R20027. Grub Street ID 77813.

Printed for William Abbington

  • Crown. The ambitious statesman, or The loyal favourite. As it was acted at the Theatre Royal, by His Majesties Servants. Written by Mr. Crowne. London: printed for William Abington, at the Black-spread-Eagle at the west end of St. Pauls, 1679. ESTC No. R22095. Grub Street ID 95179.
  • Scots memoirs, by way of dialogue between John and Elymas. London [England]: printed for William Abington, 1683. ESTC No. P2096. Grub Street ID 55812.
  • Foreness, E. A sermon preached at Manchester, upon the 9th of September, being the day of thanksgiving for our deliverance from the late conspiracy. By E. Foreness, presbyter of the Church of England. London: printed by Miles Flesher, for William Abbington, near Ludgate, 1683. ESTC No. R6667. Grub Street ID 126995.
  • The old cause's epitaph by anticipation. Since rendred in English. London: printed by H[enry]. H[ills]. for William Abington, at the Three Silk-worms in Ludgate-street, 1683. ESTC No. R3233. Grub Street ID 115047.
  • Pelling, Edward. A sermon preached at St. Mary Le Bow, Novemb. 27. 1682. Being the day of the Wiltshire-feast. By Edward Pelling, rector of St. Martins Ludgate, and chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. London: printed for John Crump, at the Three Bibles in St. Paul's Church-yard; and William Abington, at the Three Silk-worms in Ludgate-street, 1683. ESTC No. R23222. Grub Street ID 104061.
  • Pelling, Edward. David and the Amalekite upon the death of Saul. A sermon preached on Jan. 30. 1682. Being the anniversary of the martyrdom of King Charles I. of blessed memory. By Edward Pelling, rector of St. Martins Ludgate, and chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. London: printed by J. Redmayne, Jun. for William Abington at the three Silk-Worms in Ludgate-street, 1683. ESTC No. R683. Grub Street ID 127133.
  • Hooper, George. The Church of England free from the imputation of popery. London: printed for W. Abington next the Wonder Tavern in Ludgate-Street, 1683. ESTC No. R17107. Grub Street ID 65440.
  • Pelling, Edward. A sermon preached before the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, at St. Mary le Bow, on Nov. 5. 1683. Being the commemoration-day of our deliverance from a popish conspiracy. By Edward Pelling, chaplain to His Grace the Duke of Somerset. London: printed for Will. Abington next the Wonder Tavern in Ludgate-street, 1683. ESTC No. R1882. Grub Street ID 76200.
  • The Lord Bishop of London's fourth letter to the clergy of his diocess. London: printed for W. Abington, [1683]. ESTC No. R233405. Grub Street ID 104948.
  • Pelling, Edward. A sermon preached upon September the 9th, 1683. Being a thanksgiving-day for a late deliverance from a fanatick-conspiracy. By Edw. Pelling, chaplain to to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. Printed in his own defence. London: printed for Will. Abington next the Wonder Tavern in Ludgate-Street, 1683. ESTC No. R38188. Grub Street ID 120315.
  • Anderson, Henry. Religion and loyalty maintained against all modern opposers; in a treatise on the 29th of May, 1681. being Trinity-Sunday, and anniversary day of His Majesties happy birth, and King and kingdoms restauration. By Henry Anderson, M.A. vicar of Kingsumborne in Hampshire. London: printed by J.M. for Will. Abington near the Wonder-Tavern in Ludgate-street; and Will. Clark book-seller in Winchester, 1684. ESTC No. R27731. Grub Street ID 110869.
  • Pelling, Edward. A sermon preacht on January 30th. 1683. In Westminster-Abby, before the reverend and honourable, the Kings judges, and printed at their request. By Edw. Pelling, præbendary of Westminster, and chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. London: printed by H. Hills Jun. for William Abington, next door to the Wonder Tavern in Ludgate-Street, 1683. [i.e. 1684]. ESTC No. R221955. Grub Street ID 96022.
  • Ken, Thomas. A manual of prayers for the use of the scholars of Winchester Colledge and all other devout Christians. London: Printed for W. Abington .. and W. Clarke .., 1684. ESTC No. R31682. Grub Street ID 114461.
  • The mischiefs of rebellion: in several tracts. London: printed for William Abington, next the Wonder-Tavern in Ludgate-Street, 1684. ESTC No. R2693. Grub Street ID 110167.
  • The Observator, in dialogue. By Roger L'Estrange, Esq. London [England]: printed by J[oseph]. Bennet, for William Abington, near the Wonder-Tavern in Ludgate-Street, MDCLXXXIV-MDCLXXXVII. [1684-1687]. ESTC No. P1884. Grub Street ID 55642.
  • Whereas the prebendaries of the Church of St. Paul are oblig'd, in course to preach upon the holy days through-out the year: I have appointed those sermons to be preached at Bow-Church, till the cathedral be finish't, and in the following order for the year ensuing. London: printed for William Abington, 1684. ESTC No. R186448. Grub Street ID 75117.
  • Pelling, Edward. A sermon preacht on January 30th. 1683. In Westminster-Abby, before the reverend and honourable, the Kings judges, and printed at their request. By Edw. Pelling, præbendary of Westminster, and chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Somerset. London: printed by H. Hills Jun. for William Abington, next door to the Wonder Tavern in Ludgate-Street, 1684. ESTC No. R23221. Grub Street ID 104054.
  • Aucher, John. The arraignment of rebellion, or The irresistibility of sovereign powers vindicated and maintain'd in a reply to a letter. By John Aucher, M.A. ejected fellow of St. Peter's College in Cambridge. Now D.D. and canon of Christ-Church Cant. London: printed by M.F. for William Abington, within Ludgate, 1684. ESTC No. R14611. Grub Street ID 62624.
  • Aucher, John. The arraignment of rebellion, or the irresistibility of sovereign powers vindicated and maintain'd in a reply to a letter. By John Aucher, M. A. Ejected Fellow of St. Peter's College in Cambridge. Now D. D. and Canon of Christ-Church, Cant. London: printed by M.F. for William Abington, within Ludgate. 1684. And reprinted in the year 1718. And sold by John Morphew, near Stationers-Hall, [1718]. ESTC No. T120575. Grub Street ID 171593.