Publications of Edward Midwinter

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 Edward Midwinter

  • Harris, John. The description and uses of the celestial and terrestrial globes; and of Collins's pocket quadrant by John. Harris, M. A. and F. R. S. London: printed by E. Midwinter for D. Midwinter and T. Leigh at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard, MDCCIII. [1703]. ESTC No. T146887. Grub Street ID 193485.
  • A full and true account of a desperate and bloody duel: which was fought this morning in High-Park between My Lord Moon, and Duke Hambilton. ... London: printed by Edw. Midwinter, [1712]. ESTC No. T61446. Grub Street ID 287140.
  • An alarm to Great-Britain. Being a full and plain discovery of a most notorious, barbarous plot and conspiracy against Her Majesty, Queen Anne, and the present ministry; in raising and encouraging a rebellion and revolution. ... London: printed by Edward Midwinter, 1712. ESTC No. N16139. Grub Street ID 5820.
  • D---l Knows Who.. The d---l knows what, by the d--l knows who. Or, out of the frying-pan into the fire. London: printed by E. Midwinter, [1712?]. ESTC No. N17115. Grub Street ID 6595.
  • Trigge, Thomas. Calendarium astrologicum: or, an almanack for ... 1717 ... with ... the most eminent roads in England ... Also rules for physick and husbandry ... By Thomas Trigge ... London: printed by Edw. Midwinter for the Company of Stationers, 1717. ESTC No. T194052. Grub Street ID 228054.
  • Defoe, Daniel. The life and most surprizing adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, mariner. Who lived eight and twenty years in an uninhabited island on the [co]ast of America, lying near the mouth [of] the great river of Oroonoque: ... The whole three volumes faithfully abridged, ... London: printed by E. Midwinter, and sold by A. Bettesworth; J. Brotherton; W. Meadows; and M. Hotham, 1722. ESTC No. T72299. Grub Street ID 295839.

Sold by Edward Midwinter

  • England's wonder and admiration. Being a full and true relation of one Robert Cobbe, who had been possess'd with an evil tongue for five and twenty years, that he frequently fell into dismal fits, and voided many surprising monsters, ... Here is likewise an accouut [sic] how he dyed on Taesday [sic] the 12th of May 1713, and was opned [sic] by several eminent pysicians [sic] and surgeons, together with their opinions, ... London: printed and sold by Edward Midwinter, [1713?]. ESTC No. N17113. Grub Street ID 6594.
  • Aulnoy. The history of the tales of the fairies. Newly done from the French. Containing I. The tale of Graciosa and Prince Percinet; ... VI. The orange-tree, and its boloved [sic] bee; ... London: printed and sold by E. Midwinter, [1720?]. ESTC No. N8483. Grub Street ID 53387.

Printed for Edward Midwinter

  • The life of Oliver Cromwel, Lord Protector of the Common-Wealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Being an account of all the battles, sieges, and other millitary atchievements wherein he was engaged, in these three nations. And likewise, of his civil administrations, while he had the surpream government, till his death. Relating matter of fact, without partiality. London: printed for E. Midwinter, at the Three Crowns and Looking-Glass in St. Paul's Church-Yard, [1715?]. ESTC No. N10380. Grub Street ID 389.
  • Defoe, Daniel. The history and lives of all the most notorious pirates, and their crews, from Capt. Avery, who first settled at Madagascar, to Capt. John Gow, ... The third edition. To which is prefixed, an abstract of the laws against piracy. London: printed for Edward Midwinter, 1729. ESTC No. N30069. Grub Street ID 19056.
  • Palladio, Andrea. The first book of architecture: by Andrea Palladio. Translated out of Italian, with an appendix touching Doors and Windows. by Pr. Le Muet Architect to the French King. Translated into English by Godfrey Richards. The whole illustrated with above seventy copper cuts. Also rules and demonstrations, with several designs, for the Framing of any manner of Roofs, either Above Pitch, or Under Pitch, whether Square, or Bevel, never before Published: by that Ingenious Architect Mr. William Pope of London. With designs of floors of Variety of Small Pieces of Wood Inlaid, lately made in the Palace at Somerset-House; a Curiousity never practised before in England. London: printed for Edw. Midwinter at the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge, 1729. ESTC No. T129726. Grub Street ID 179133.
  • Erra Pater.. The book of knowledge; treating of the wisdom of the ancients. In four parts. I. Shewing the various and wonderful Operations of the Signs and Planets, and other Celestial Constellations on the Bodies of Men, &c. II. Prognostications for ever, necessary to keep the Body in Health; with several choice Receipts in Physick and Surgery. III. An Abstract of the Art of Physiognomy and Palmestry, together with the Signification of Moles, and Interpretation of Dreams, &c. IV. The Farmer's Kalendar: Containing, 1. Perpetual Prognostications for Weather. 2. The whole Mystery of Husbandry. 3. The Compleat and Experienc'd Farrier and Cow-Leech, &c. Written by Erra Pater, a Jew, Doctor in Astronomy and Physick, born in Bethany, near Mount Olivet, in Judea: made English by W. Lilley, Student in Physick and Astrology. To which is added, The dealer's directory; Containing, 1. The true Form of all Sorts of Bills, Bonds, Gounter-Bonds, Indentures, Letters of Attorney and License, Deeds of Gifts, Bills o. London: printed for Edw. Midwinter, at the Three Crowns and Looking glass, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, [1731]. ESTC No. N15366. Grub Street ID 5094.
  • A guide from the cradel to the grave. Being a companion for young and old: ... To which is added, the three great steps to eternal salvation: as faith, to be our guide, hope, to be our comfort; and chariy, to hide a multitude of faults. With an instruction for children t be obdient to their parents. [London]: Printed [by and for Edward Midwinter] in the year, DMCCXXXI. [1731]. ESTC No. T232406. Grub Street ID 257517.
  • New remarks of London: or, a survey of the cities of London and Westminster, of Southwark, and part of Middlesex and Surrey, within the circumference of the bills of mortality. ... Collected by the Company of Parish-Clerks. ... London: printed for E. Midwinter, 1732. ESTC No. T39930. Grub Street ID 269116.
  • The fortunate and unfortunate lovers: or the history of the lives, fortunes, and adventures of Dorastus and Fawnia, Hero and Leander. Made English from the originals, written in the Bohemia and Grecian tongues, by a gentleman, Who spent many Years in travelling through most Parts of Germany, Bohemia, Greece and Italy, where these Stories are in as much Credit and Repute, as any that are now Extant, or ever were Printed. London: printed for E. Midwinter on London-Bridge, [1735?]. ESTC No. N18649. Grub Street ID 8117.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Edward Midwinter

  • an abstract of the articles of peace, concluded at Utrecht the 31/11 day of March/April 1713. between ... Anne, ... Queen of Great-Britain, France and Ireland, and ... Lewis the XIVth ... King of France and Navarre. London: printed and sold by Edw. Midwinter, [1713?]. ESTC No. N30545. Grub Street ID 19467.
  • The critical minute: or, the golden opportunity, for young men and maid's to compleat their love or any other business. As also the play of crambo, ... With a description of Valentines-Day, ... London: printed and sold by Ed. Midwinter, [1720?]. ESTC No. T196987. Grub Street ID 230251.