Publications of Joseph Fox the Second

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 Joseph Fox the Second

  • A discourse upon self-murder: or, the cause, the nature, and immediate consequences of self-murder, fully examined and truly stated. In a letter to a free thinker that despis'd life. London: printed by Joseph Fox in Westminster-Hall; and sold by M. Cooper at the Globe in Pater-Noster-Row, [1754]. ESTC No. T123317. Grub Street ID 173811.

Sold by Joseph Fox the Second

  • Ellis, William. The timber-Tree improved; or, the best practical methods of improving different lands with proper timber, and Those Fruit-Trees whose Woods make the most profitable Returns to their Owners: According to the Newest Inventions, by the Plough, Harrow, and other Methods most approved of. By William Ellis, Of Little Gaddesden, near Hemstead in Hertfordshire. London: printed for the author, and sold by J. and J. Fox, at the Half-Moon and Seven-Stars, in Westminster-Hall; and at their shop at Tunbridge-Wells, during the summer season; sold also by E. Withers, in Fleet-Street, and T. Cooper in Pater-Noster-Row, 1738. ESTC No. T11287. Grub Street ID 164824.

Printed for Joseph Fox the Second

  • Cannon, Robert. A vindication of the proceedings of the Lower House of Convocation, with regard to the King's supremacy, on the 3d and 10th of May, 1717. And some thoughts concerning religion; With the Occasion of their being made Publick. And a postscript to the Lord Bishop of Bangor. By Robert Cannon, D. D. Arch-Deacon of Norfolk. London: printed for Jos. Fox, B. Barker, and C. King, all in Westminster-Hall; and sold by J. Morphew near Stationers-Hall, 1718. ESTC No. T103877. Grub Street ID 157480.
  • The london and country brewer. Containing an Account, I. Of the Nature of the Barley-Corn, and of the proper Soils and Manures for the Improvement thereof. II. Of making good Malts. III. To know good from bad Malts. IV. Of the Use of the Pale, Amber, and Brown Malts. V. Of the Nature of several Waters, and their Use in Brewing. VI. Of Grinding Malts. VII. Of Brewing in general. VIII. Of the London Method of Brewing Stout, But-Beer, Pale and Brown Ales. IX. Of the Country or Private Way of Brewing. X. Of the Nature and Use of the Hop. XI. Of Boiling Malt Liquors, and to Brew a Quantity of Drink in a little Room, and with a few Tubs. XII. Of Foxing or Tainting of Malt Liquors; their Prevention and Cure. XIII. Of Fermenting and Working of Beers and Ales, and the unwholesome Practice of Beating in the Yeast, detected. XIV. Of several Artificial Lees for seeding, fining, preserving, and relishing Malt Liquors. XV. Of several pernicious Ingredients put into Malt Liquors to encrease their Strength. XVI. Of the Cellar or Repository for keeping Beers and Ales. XVII. Of Sweetning and Cleaning Casks. XVIII. Of Bunging Casks and Carrying them to some Distance. XIX. Of the Age and Strength of Malt Liquors. XX. Of the Profit and Pleasure of Private Brewing, and the Charge of Buying Malt Liquors. To which is added, A Philosophical Account of Brewing Strong October Beer. By an Ingenious Hand. By a Person formerly concerned in a Common Brewhouse at London, but for twenty Years past has resided in the Country. London: printed for Messieurs Fox, at the Half-Moon and Seven Stars, in Westminster-Hall, M.DCC.XXXVI. [1736]. ESTC No. T16835. Grub Street ID 206275.
  • Tandon, J. E. A new French grammar, teaching a person, of an ordinary capacity, without the help of a master, to read, speak, and write that tongue, in less than half the usual time, in the following Easy Method, never before attempted, viz. I. The true Pronunciation of Vowels, Consonants, Dipthongs, and Tripthongs. II. The Use and Construction of Articles. Of Verbs, Adverbs, Prepositions, and the Syntax. III. A Dictionary of some useful Words; a Vocabulary French and English; and a Collection of Adjectives expressing divers Qualities. IV. An Alphabetical List of the proper Names of Men and Women, with their Abbreviations. V. Familiar Phrases and Dialogues, disposed in three Columns, viz. 1st, the French as Written and Spelt 2d, the English 3d, The French as Pronounced. VI. A Choice Collection of French and English Proverbs. Vii. A Collection of French Songs. By J.E. Tandon, Teacher of the French Tongue at her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough's. The third edition, with the addition of many new and u. London: printed for John Millan, near Will's Coffee-House, Scotland-Yard; and J. and J. Fox, at the Half-Moon and Seven Stars, in Westminster-Hall, M.DCC.XXXVI. [1736]. ESTC No. T120737. Grub Street ID 171741.
  • Blackerby, Nathaniel. The speech of Nathaniel Blackerby Esq; At a general meeting of His Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the city and liberty of Westminster; held at the King’s Bench, in Westminster-Hall: on Saturday, April 1. 1738. To the justices, high bailiff, high constable, and petty constables of the city and liberty of Westminister; on occasion of His Majesty’s royal proclamation, and of a letter from the Lords of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy-Council, inclosed to him, as chairman, in a letter from His Grace the Duke of Newcastle, Custos Rotulorum of the county of Middlesex, and city and liberty of Westminster: for the more effectual putting in execution the laws against retailing spirituous liquors, protecting the officers of justice, assisting the magistrates, and suppressing all combinations, confederacies, &c. London: Printed for J. and J. Fox, at the Half-Moon and Seven Stars, in Westminster-Hall, M.DCC.XXXVIII. [1738]. ESTC No. T192979. Grub Street ID 227271.
  • The projectors. A comedy. The second edition. The humours of the road, or, a ramble to Oxford. A comedy. The second edition. As they were both intended to be acted at one of the theatres. London: printed for T. Cooper at the Globe in Pater-Noster-Row, and sold by J. and J. Fox, at the Half-Moon and Seven-Stars in Westminster-Hall, [1739]. ESTC No. T179653. Grub Street ID 216370.
  • Romaine, William. A full answer to a fallacious apology artfully circulated through the kingdom, in favour of the naturalization of the Jews, verified by history and record. ... By a Christian. London: printed for J. Fox, 1753. ESTC No. T14616. Grub Street ID 192842.

Author

  • Fox, Joseph, the Second. The parish clerk's vade mecum: being a collection of singing psalms from the old version, suited to every Sunday, festival, and holiday throughout the year. In a method entirely new. By Joseph Fox, ... London: printed for the editor, and sold at his shop in Westminster-Hall; and by M. Cooper, 1752. ESTC No. T182428. Grub Street ID 218901.