John Nutt (d. 1716; fl. 1691–1716)
John Nutt, printer and bookseller, fl. 1691–1716; near Stationers' Hall, or Juxta Basilicam Stationariorum / near Stationers' Hall, Stationers' Court; in the Savoy, 1708–1716. Died 24 May 1716. Succeeded by his widow, Elizabeth Nutt (née Carr).
The Life and Errors of John Dunton, by John Dunton (1705)
Mr. Nut—We went joint Partners in the Parliament Lottery, and a Prize of Ten Pounds per Annum, falling upon my TICKET, it renew'd our Friendship.
Upon a long Experience of Mr. Nut, I find him to be a just Paymaster, and a good Publisher.
Mr. Nut—was originally a Printer, and liv'd with Mr. Jones, in the Savoy for many Years, and has always had the Character of being very discreet and obliging, and now gives as great content to those that Employ him, as any PUBLISHER whatsoever.
A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725, by Henry Plomer (1922)
NUTT (JOHN), printer and bookseller in London, (i) (a) near Stationers Hall, or Juxta Basilicam Stationariorum, (b) in Stationers' Court; (2) in the Savoy. 1690(?)–1710(?). The Rev. Rowland Davies, Dean of Ross, records in his Diary under date April 3rd, 1690: "Then I went to my brother and with him into the City, having at Nott's bought this book and a case for sermons for three shillings." [Camden Soc. Pub. no. 64, 1857, p. 97.] This entry may possibly refer to William Nutt, the bookseller of Pall Mall, although the latest reference to him in the Term Catalogues is 1688–9. On the other hand, if the Dean really made his purchase in the City, then the reference must be to John Nutt, who is not otherwise known to have been established there until 1698. [T.C. III. 95.] Dunton again has added to the confusion. He says of "Mr. Nutt": "He was originally a printer, and lived with Mr. Jones in the Savoy for many years ... and now gives as great content to those that employ him as any publisher whatever." This was written in 1703, but John Nutt, the printer in the Savoy, is not mentioned in the Term Catalogues as a printer until 1708. The fact seems to be that Nutt gave up bookselling about 1708 to resume his earlier trade as a printer. His last entry in the Term Catalogues is Moll's Atlas, 1709, printed by him. [T.C. III. 651.] He was apparently succeeded by Elizabeth Nutt (q.v.), probably his widow. His most famous publication was Swift's Tale of a Tub, 1704 and reprints to 1710.
Notes & Queries "London Booksellers Series" (1931–2)
Nutt, John. The publisher of Pomfret's 'Choice' (1700). He advertises as "Near Stationers' Hall" in 1701, and appears in press advertisements occasionally for the next few years. He died before 1716, though exactly when, I have not been able to ascertain. His widow, Elizabeth Nutt, was still carrying on the business in 1736. (This on the authority of Timperley).
—Frederick T. Wood, 26 September 1931