Publications of James Foster

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 for James Foster

  • Blair, Robert. The grave. A poem. By Robert Blair. [One line from Job] To which is added, An elegy written in a country church-yard, by Mr. Gray. Boston: Re-printed by John Boyles [i.e., Boyle], for James Foster Condy, opposite the cornfield in Union-Street, MDCCLXXII. [1772]. ESTC No. W19868. Grub Street ID 329490.

Author

  • Foster, James. An account of the apparition of the late Lord Kilmarnock, to the Rev. Mr. Foster. With what passed between them in this interview, the next morning after his execution. To which is added, the second appearing of the late Lord Kilmarnock, to a clergyman of the Church of England, in the evening of the same day. The account of which is given in the close of the Dialogue between a clergyman and a sea-captain, occasioned by the Rev. Mr. Foster's Account of the late Lord Kilmarnock. N.B. The apparition itself restrained the clergyman from publishing it, till after the expiration of three or four months, from the time of the execution. [Two lines from Proverbs]. [Boston]: London, printed 1747. Boston: N.E. Reprinted and sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street, next to the prison, 1747. ESTC No. W10197. Grub Street ID 319302.
  • Foster, James. The resurrection of Christ prov'd, and vindicated, against the most Important Objections of the Antient Jews, or Modern Deists; and his Disciples shewn to be sufficient Witnesses of the Fact. A Sermon Preach'd at Trowbridge, in the County of Wilts: Some Additions and Amendments. By James Foster. London: printed for John Clark, at the Bible and Crown in the Poultry, near Cheapside, 1720. ESTC No. T6394. Grub Street ID 289076.
  • Foster, James. An essay on fundamentals, with a particular regard to the doctrine of the ever-blessed Trinity. With an appendix, concerning the true import of the phrase, Son of God, as 'tis apply'd to Christ. By James Foster ... London: printed for John Clarke, 1720. ESTC No. N9293. Grub Street ID 54160.
  • Foster, James. The usefulness, truth, and excellency of the Christian revelation defended against the objections contain'd in a late book, intitled, Christianity as old as the creation, &c. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart near Mercers-Chapel in Cheapside, MDCCXXXI. [1731]. ESTC No. T87604. Grub Street ID 307642.
  • Foster, James. The usefulness, truth, and excellency of the Christian revelation defended against the objections contain'd in a late book, intitled, Christianity as old as the creation, &c. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White Hart near Mercers Chapel in Cheapside, MDCCXXXI. [1731]. ESTC No. T87613. Grub Street ID 307650.
  • Foster, James. Additions to the first edition of the Usefulness, truth, and excellency of the Christian revelation defended against the objections ... in ... Christianity as old as the creation, ... By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, 1731. ESTC No. T187479. Grub Street ID 223433.
  • Foster, James. A sermon occasion'd by the death of Mrs. Mary Wilks. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel, [1732]. ESTC No. T87608. Grub Street ID 307645.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects, viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. ... By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, 1732. ESTC No. T195710. Grub Street ID 229316.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects, viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. The characters of the righteous and good man compared; or benevolence the noblest branch of social virtue. The perfection of the Christian scheme of benevolence; in answer to the objection from its not having particularly recommended private friendship, and the love of our country. Of the image of God in man; or the excellency of human nature. God not an arbitrary being. Of the abuses of free-thinking. Of Mysteries. Agur's prayer; or the middle condition of life, generally, the most eligible. The mischiefs of flavish complaisance, and cowardice. Rules for the profitable reading the Holy Scriptures. Of Heresy. Of Schism. Of the pleasures of a religious life. Religion founded on reason, and the right of private judgment. The evidence of a future state, on the principles of reason and revelation, distinctly consider'd. The nature, folly, and danger of scoffing at religion. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon at the White Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel, M.DCC.XXXIII. [1733]. ESTC No. T87609. Grub Street ID 307646.
  • Foster, James. The usefulness, truth, and excellency of the Christian revelation defended against the objections contain'd in a late book, intitled, Christianity as old as the creation, &c. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart near Mercers-Chapel in Cheapside, MDCCXXXIV. [1734]. ESTC No. T87605. Grub Street ID 307643.
  • Foster, James. An answer to Dr. Stebbing's letter on the subject of heresy. In a letter to the Doctor. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart, in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel, M.DCC.XXXV. [1735]. ESTC No. T22006. Grub Street ID 243885.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects, viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. ... By James Foster. [Dublin]: Printed by R. Reilly, on Cork-Hill, for G. Risk, G. Ewing: W. Smith, and A. Bradley, 1735. ESTC No. N24143. Grub Street ID 13506.
  • Foster, James. An answer to Dr. Stebbing's letter on the subject of heresy. In a letter to the Doctor. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, 1735. ESTC No. N16536. Grub Street ID 6128.
  • Foster, James. An answer to Dr. Stebbing's second letter on the subject of heresy. In which the whole controversy is fairly stated and re-examined. By James Foster. London: printed for John Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers Chapel, MDCCXXXVI. [1736]. ESTC No. T184736. Grub Street ID 221044.
  • Foster, James. An answer to Dr. Stebbing's second letter on the subject of heresy. In which the whole controversy is fairly stated and re-examined. By James Foster. London: printed for John Noon, 1736. ESTC No. T22007. Grub Street ID 243893.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects, viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. The characters of the righteous and good man compared; or benevolence the noblest branch of social virtue. The perfection of the Christian scheme of benevolence; in answer to the objection from its not having particularly recommended private friendship, and the love of our country. Of the image of God in man; or the excellency of human nature. God not an arbitrary being. Of the abuses of free-thinking. Of Mysteries. Agur's prayer; or the middle condition of life, generally, the most eligible. The mischiefs of slavish complaisance, and cowardice. Rules for the profitable reading the Holy Scriptures. Of Heresy. Of Schism Of the pleasures of a religious life. Religion founded on reason, and the right of private judgment. The evidence of a future state, or the principles of reason and revelation, distinctly consider'd. The nature, folly, and danger of scoffing at religion. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers Chappel, 1736. ESTC No. N24146. Grub Street ID 13509.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. viz. Of moral and natural evil. ... The peculiar guilt and infamy of prevailing wickedness ... By James Foster. Volume II. London: printed for John Noon; and John Gray, 1737. ESTC No. N37186. Grub Street ID 25140.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. viz. Of moral and natural evil. ... The peculiar guilt and infamy of prevailing wickedness ... By James Foster. Volume II. London: printed for John Noon; and John Gray, 1737. ESTC No. N37187. Grub Street ID 25141.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on various subjects. In two volumes. By James Foster. London: printed for John Gray, 1737. ESTC No. N37189. Grub Street ID 25142.
  • Foster, James. An answer to Dr. Stebbing's True state of the controversy with Mr. Foster, On the Subject of heresy. By James Foster. London: printed for John Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chappel, 1737. ESTC No. T22008. Grub Street ID 243900.
  • Foster, James. [Sermons on various subjects. In two volumes. By James Foster]. [Dublin: printed by R. Reilly, for G. Risk, G. Ewing; W. Smith; and A. Bradley, 1737]. ESTC No. T230011. Grub Street ID 249809.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. Viz. Of moral and natural evil. ... By James Foster. London: printed for John Gray, 1738. ESTC No. N24142. Grub Street ID 13505.
  • Foster, James. A sermon, preached at Barbican, on Sunday, August 16, 1741. On occasion of the death of the late Reverend and Learned Mr. Thomas Emlyn. By James Foster. London: printed for John Noon, at the White-Hart, in Cheapside; and John Gray, at the Cross-Keys, in the Poultry, 1741. ESTC No. T47528. Grub Street ID 275478.
  • Foster, James. A sermon, preached at Barbican, on Sunday, August 16, 1741. On occasion of the death of the late Reverend and learned Mr. Thomas Emlyn. By James Foster. Dublin: printed for Edward Exshaw, at the Bible on Cork-Hill, opposite the Old-Exchange, M,DCC,XLI. [1741]. ESTC No. T87607. Grub Street ID 307644.
  • Foster, James. A sermon preached at White'-Alley, on Sunday, October 31, 1742. on occasion of the death of the late Reverend Mr. John Ashworth. By James Foster. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart, in Cheapside; J. Gray, at the Cross-Keys, in the Poultry; and A. Millar, at Buchanan's-Head, in the Strand, 1742. ESTC No. T3055. Grub Street ID 261410.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. Viz. Of moral and natural evil. ... By James Foster. Volume II. London: printed for J. Noon; and A. Millar, 1743. ESTC No. N24144. Grub Street ID 13507.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. Viz. God no respecter of persons. The scripture doctrine of justification explained. Moral reflections on the history of Joseph. Of the natural relation of men to God, and their common tie to each other. Of Murder, and the vices and customs leading to it. Of Duels, and Self-Murder. On the example and moral character of Christ. The nature of a heavenly conversation explained. On incredulity, and the morality of Faith. The different characters of true Religion, and Enthusiasm. Of theft, fraud, and extortion. The doctrine of a particular Providence considered. Of the unity of God, and the Jewish theocracy. On the seventh commandment. By James Foster. Volume III. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel; and A. Millar, opposite to Katharine-Street in the Strand, MDCCXLIV. [1744]. ESTC No. T87610. Grub Street ID 307647.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. Viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. ... By James Foster. Volume I. London: printed for J. Noon; and A. Millar, 1745. ESTC No. N24141. Grub Street ID 13504.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and on the day of his execution. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentick papers. Dublin: printed for George Faulkner, in Essex-Street; Oliver Nelson, in Skinner-Row; W. Bryen; and Richard James, opposite Sycamore-Alley in Dame-Street, booksellers, 1746. ESTC No. T145062. Grub Street ID 191840.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and on the day of his execution. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentick papers. Edinburgh: printed by R. Drummond and Company, 1746. ESTC No. N68784. Grub Street ID 50099.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and on the day of his execution. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentic papers. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White Hart in Cheapside, near Mercer's Chapel; and A. Millar, opposite Katharine-Street in the Strand, MDCCXLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T144578. Grub Street ID 191430.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and on the day of his execution. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentick papers. Belfast: printed by Henry and Robert Joy, at the Peacock in Bridgestreet, 1746. ESTC No. T79085. Grub Street ID 300751.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and on the day of his execution. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentic papers. London: printed for J. Noon; and A. Millar, 1746. ESTC No. N61483. Grub Street ID 44262.
  • Foster, James. An account of the behaviour of the late Earl of Kilmarnock, after his sentence, and to the time of his execution, which was on August 18. 1746. By James Foster. With an appendix, containing several authentic papers. N.B. Mr. Foster was the minister who at the desire of the Earl of Kilmarnock attended his Lordship to assist him in his preparations for another world, and it is the same Rev. gentleman to whom (according to a pamphlet published in London and Boston) the said Earl appeared after his execution: he is said to be one of the most celebrated preachers in England, his lectures are attended by great numbers of people, especially of the nobility, gentry, Bishops and others of the clergy of all denominations, though a dissenter from the establish'd Church. [Boston]: London, printed. Boston: N.E. Printed and sold by Rogers and Fowle in Queen-Street, 1747. ESTC No. W10109. Grub Street ID 319206.
  • Foster, James. Discourses on all the principal branches of natural religion and social virtue. By James Foster, D. D. Vol. I. London: printed for the author: and sold by Mr. Noon in Cheapside; Messieurs J. and P. Knapton in Ludgate-Street; Mr. Millar in the Strand; Mr. Whitridge near the Royal Exchange; and Mr. Dodsley in Pall-Mall: and by Mr. Kincaid and Messieurs Hamilton and Balfour in Edinburgh; Mr. Barry and Messieurs Fowlis in Glasgow; Mr. Smith in Dublin; and other booksellers in Great Britain and Ireland, 1749-52. ESTC No. N6445. Grub Street ID 46448.
  • Foster, James. An essay on fundamentals; with a particular regard to the doctrine of the ever-blessed trinity. With an appendix, concerning the true import of the phrase, Son of God, as 'tis applied to Christ. To which is annex'd, The resurrection of Christ prov'd, and vindicated, against the most Important Objections of the Antient Jews, or Modern Deists; and his Disciples shewn to be sufficient Witnesses of the Fact. In a sermon preached at Trowbridge, In the County of Wilts. Both by James Foster, D.D. London: first printed in the year MDCCXX, now reprinted by J. Noon, in Cheapside, near the Poultry; A. Millar, in the Strand; and J. Ward, in Cornhill, MDCCLIV. [1754]. ESTC No. T3054. Grub Street ID 261399.
  • Foster, James. Discourses on all the principal branches of natural religion and social virtue. With suitable offices of devotion. By James Foster, D.D. In two volumes. ... Dublin: printed for G. and A. Ewing, 1754. ESTC No. N8722. Grub Street ID 53627.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects. Viz. Of moral and natural evil. Of the true principle of virtue. Of the nature, Divine original, and authority of conscience. The plea of an erroneous conscience distinctly considered, and argued. The influences of the Spirit intirely persuasive and moral; and its fruits of the same kind with the dictates of natural Conscience. Of Anger. The time when Christianity was made known proved to be the fittest, from the state and circumstances of the world. The wisdom of God in the various ranks and subordinations of human life. The glory of God best promoted by the moral rectitude and happiness of his Creatures. The folly of imitating popular and fashionable vices. The sublimity aud extent of Christian Morals. Of sincerity, as opposed to prejudice. Of the true idea and improvement of Human Life. The kingdom of God, under the dispensation of the Gospel, not an external and ritual, but a moral constitution. Universal charity the essence and life of religion. . London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel; and A. Millar, opposite to Katharine-Street in the Strand, MDCCLV. [1755]. ESTC No. T87611. Grub Street ID 307648.
  • Foster, James. Sermons on the following subjects: viz. Of the universal sense of good and evil. The characters of the righteous and good man compared; or benevolence the noblest branch of social virtue. The perfection of the Christian scheme of benevolence; in answer to the objection from its not having particularly recommended private friendship, and the love of our country. Of the image of God in man; or the excellency of human nature. God not an arbitrary being. Of the abuses of free-thinking. Of Mysteries. Agur's prayer; or the middle condition of life, generally, the most eligible. The mischiefs of slavish complaisance, and cowardice. Rules for the profitable reading the Holy Scriptures. Of Heresy. Of Schism. Of the pleasures of a religious life. Religion founded on reason, and the right of private judgment. The evidence of a future state, on the principles of reason and revelation, distinctly consider'd. The nature, solly, and danger of scoffing at religion. By James Foster, D.D. In four volume. London: printed for J. Noon, at the White-Hart in Cheapside, near Mercers-Chapel; and A. Millar, opposite to Katharine-Street in the Strand, MDCCLV. [1755]. ESTC No. T87612. Grub Street ID 307649.
  • Foster, James. An essay on fundamentals; with a particular regard to the doctrine of the ever-blessed Trinity. With an appendix, concerning the true import of the phrase, Son of God, as 'tis applied to Christ. To which is annex'd, The resurrection of Christ prov'd, ... In a sermon preached at Trowbridge, ... Both by James Foster, D.D. London: first printed in the year MDCCXX, now reprinted by J. Johnson, and T. Piety, 1761. ESTC No. N3351. Grub Street ID 21982.