Publications of Thomas Adams

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 Thomas Adams

  • Muriell, Christopher. An ansvver vnto the Catholiques supplication, presented vnto the Kings Maiestie, for a tolleration of popish religion in England. Wherein is contained a confutation of their vnreasonable petitions, and slaunderous lyes against our late soueraigne Queene Elizabeth, whose happy and gratious gouernement, the papists in their said supplication doe so peremptorilie traduce. Together with an information vnto his Maiestie of diuers their wicked and treasonable practises, attempted in the life time of our late Queene his worthy predecessor, whose life they always sought meanes to extinguish. Wherevnto is annexed the supplication of the papists, word for word as it was presented vnto the Kings Maiestie: with some necessarie annotations thereupon. Newly corrected and augmented. Written by Christopher Muriell the elder. Imprinted at London: by R[ichard] R[ead] for Francis Burton, and are to be solde [by Thomas Adams] in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the White-Lyon, 1603. ESTC No. S123214. Grub Street ID 142730.
  • Gibbons, Orlando. Fantasies of three parts. Composed by Orlando Gibbons Batchelour of Musick, and late organist of His Maiesties Chappell Royall in ordinary. Cut in copper, the like not heretofore extant. London: At the Bell in St. Pauls Church-yard [sold by T. or E. Adams, 1620?]. ESTC No. S118450. Grub Street ID 138104.
  • Gibbons, Orlando. Fantazies of III parts. ... Orlando Gibbons. London: At the Bell in St Pauls Church-yard [sold by T. or E. Adams, 1620?]. ESTC No. S119030. Grub Street ID 138676.

Printed for Thomas Adams

  • Grafton, Richard. A briefe treatise containing many proper tables and easie rules. Very necessary and needeful, for the vse and commoditie of all people, collected out of certaine learned mens works. Perused, corrected, and augmented by W.W. The contentes whereof, the leafe that next followeth doeth expresse. At London: Printed by V. S[immes] for Thomas Adams dwelling in Pauls Churchyard at the signe of the white Lion, 1595. ESTC No. S119652. Grub Street ID 139292.
  • A compendious and most maruellous historie of the latter times of the Iewes common weale. Beginning where the Bible, or scriptures leaue, and continuing to the vtter subuersion and last destruction of that countrey and people. Written in Hebrue by Joseph Ben Gorion, a noble man of the same countrey, who sawe the most things himselfe, and was authour and doer of a greater part of the same. Translated into English by Peter Morwyn, of Magdalen College in Oxford. And now newly corrected and amended by the said translator. At London: Printed by V. Sims, for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, ouer against the great North doore, An. Do. 1596. ESTC No. S93390. Grub Street ID 151903.
  • Grafton, Richard. A briefe treatise containing many proper tables and easie rules. Very necessary and needeful, for the vse and commoditie of all people, collected out of certaine learned mens workes. Perused, corrected, and augmented by W.W. The contents whereof, the leafe that next followeth doth expresse. London: Printed by Valentine Simmes for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules churchyard at the signe of the White Lion, 1596. ESTC No. S116678. Grub Street ID 136366.
  • Howson, John. A sermon preached at Paules Crosse the 4. of December. 1597. Wherein is discoursed, that all buying and selling of spirituall promotion is vnlawfull. By Iohn Hovvson, student of Christes-Church in Oxeford. At London: printed for Th. Adams, 1597. ESTC No. S2747. Grub Street ID 147100.
  • Howson, John. A second sermon, preached at Paules Crosse, the 21. of May, 1598. vpon the 21. of Math. the 12. and 13. verses: concluding a former sermon preached the 4. of December 1597. vpon the same text. By Iohn Hovvson, student of Christes-Church in Oxford. Imprinted at London: By Arn. Hatfield for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Churchyard, at the signe of the white Lion, 1598. ESTC No. S121034. Grub Street ID 140643.
  • [The shepheards kalendar]. [London: V. Simmes for T. Adams?, 1600?]. ESTC No. S112641. Grub Street ID 132394.
  • Grafton, Richard. A briefe treatise containing many proper tables and easie rules. Very necessary and needful, for the vse and commoditie of all people: first collected out of certaine learned mens workes. By Richard Grafton. And now perused, corrected, and in many places augmented this present yeare 1602. The contents whereof, the leafe that next followeth doth expresse. London: Printed [by R. Read] for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the white Lion, 1602. ESTC No. S116003. Grub Street ID 135696.
  • The birth of mankinde, otherwise named The womans booke. Set foorth in English by Thomas Raynalde phisition, and by him corrected, and augmented. Whose contents yée may reade in the table following: but most plainely in the prologue. Imprinted at London: [By George Eld?] for Thomas Adams. Cum priuilegio, [1604]. ESTC No. S116049. Grub Street ID 135742.
  • Grafton, Richard. A briefe treatise containing many proper tables and easie rules. Very necessary and needful for the vse and commodity of all people: first collected out o[f] certaine learned mens wo[r]kes. By Richard Grafton. And now newly perused, corrected, and in many places augmente this present yeare. 1608. The contents whereof, the leafe that next followeth doth expresse. London: printed [by G. Eld] for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the white Lion, 1608. ESTC No. S124534. Grub Street ID 143886.
  • A compendious and most maruelous history of the latter times of the Iewes common-weale. Beginning where the Bible, or Scriptures leaue, and continuing to the vtter subuersion and last destruction of that countrey and people. Written in Hebrue by Joseph Ben Gorion, a nobl man of the same countrey, who sawe the most things himselfe, and was the author and dooer of a greater part of the same. Translated into English, by Peter Morwyn, of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford. At London: Printed for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, ouer against the great North doore, 1608. ESTC No. S114008. Grub Street ID 133734.
  • Crakanthorpe, Richard. A sermon at the solemnizing of the happie inauguration of our most gracious and religious soueraigne King Iames. Wherein is manifestly proued, that the soueraignty of kings is immediatly from God, and second to no authority on earth whatsoeuer. Preached at Paules Crosse, the 24. of March last. 1608. By Richard Crakanthorpe, Doctor of Diuinitie. London: Printed by W. Iaggard for Tho: Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the blew Bell, 1609. ESTC No. S308. Grub Street ID 147378.
  • Ornithoparchus, Andreas. Andreas Ornithoparcus his Micrologus, or Introduction: containing the art of singing. Digested into foure bookes. Not onely profitable, but also necessary for all that are studious of musicke. Also the dimension and perfect vse of the monochord, according to Guido Aretinus By Iohn Douland lutenist, lute-player, and Bachelor of Musicke in both the Vniuersities. 1609. London: Printed [by Thomas Snodham] for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the white Lion, [1609]. ESTC No. S115197. Grub Street ID 134892.
  • The shepheards kalender. Here beginneth the kalender of shepheards. Printed at London: for Thomas Adams, dvvelling in Paules Church-yard at the signe of the white Lyon, 1611. ESTC No. S110699. Grub Street ID 130693.
  • Ravenscroft, Thomas. A briefe discourse of the true (but neglected) vse of charact'ring the degrees, by their perfection, imperfection, and diminution in measurable musicke, against the common practise and custome of these times. Examples whereof are exprest in the harmony of 4. voyces, concerning the pleasure of 5. vsuall recreations. 1 Hunting, 2 hawking, 3 dauncing, 4 drinking, 5 enamouring. By Thomas Rauenscroft, Bachelor of Musicke. London: Printed by Edw: Allde for Tho. Adams, 1614. ESTC No. S110612. Grub Street ID 130627.
  • Rich, Barnabe. The honestie of this age. Proouing by good circumstance that the world was neuer honest till now. By Barnabee Rych Gentleman, seruant to the Kings most excellent Maiestie. Printed at London: [By Thomas Dawson] for T[homas] A[dams], 1614. ESTC No. S115916. Grub Street ID 135608.
  • Rich, Barnabe. The honestie of this age. Proouing by good circumstance, that the world was neuer honest till now. By Barnabe Rych Gentleman, seruant to the Kings most excellent Maiestie. Printed at London: [By John Legat] for T. A[dams], 1615. ESTC No. S2297. Grub Street ID 146689.
  • Rich, Barnabe. The honestie of this age. Proouing by good circumstance, that the world was neuer honest till now. By Barnabe Rich gentleman, seruant to the Kings most excellent Maiestie. Printed at London: [by J. Legat] for T. A[dams]., 1615. ESTC No. S4855. Grub Street ID 148773.
  • A compendious and most maruellous historie of the latter times of the Iewes common-weale. Beginning where the Bible, or Scriptures leaue, and continuing to the vtter subuersion, and last destruction of that countrieand people. Written in Hebrew by Ioseph Ben Gorion, a nobleman of the same countrey, who saw the most things himselfe, and was the author and doer of a greater part of the same. Translated into English, by Peter Morvvyn, of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford: And now newly corrected and amended by the said translator. London: Printed [by J. Legat] for Thomas Adams, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard, at the signe of the Bell, 1615. ESTC No. S119364. Grub Street ID 139004.
  • The shepheards kalender. Here beginneth the kalender of shepheards. Newly augmented and corrected. Printed at London: For Thomas Adams, dwelling in Pauls Church-yard at the signe of the Bell, 1618. ESTC No. S117296. Grub Street ID 136968.