Publications of Joshua Kinneir

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 Joshua Kinneir

  • A letter from a young lady to Mr. Cibber. Dublin: printed by Martineau and Kinneir, 1743. ESTC No. N35348. Grub Street ID 23618.
  • A catalogue of curious and valuable books. Containing about 3000 volumes, in most faculties and languages, being the collection of the Reverend dean copping deceas’d. Which will begin to be sold by auction, at his late dwelling-house in Duke-street, on Monday the 21st of November 1743, at II o’clock in the forenoon, and continue every day till the whole are sold. Catalogues to be had at the place of sale. Dublin : printed by Kinneir and Martineau on the Lower Blind-Key, M,DCC,XLIII. [1743]. ESTC No. N475818. Grub Street ID 359256.
  • The fair disputant: or, Woman’s advocate. A familiar epistle from a Christian to a clergyman, in defence of Eliz. Smith, Mary Drummond, Abigail Watson, Rob. Barclay, W. Penn, G. Rooke, and others of ... the Quakers. Wherein is ... shewn the right, authority and power of womens ministry; and what idea we ought to have of God. Dublin: printed by Z. Martineau and J. Kinneir, 1743. ESTC No. N473722. Grub Street ID 359257.
  • Sheridan, Thomas. Mr. Sheridan's address to the town. Dublin: printed by Martineau and Kinneir, on the Lower Blind Key, near Fishamble street, M,DCC,XLIII. [1743]. ESTC No. T197897. Grub Street ID 230793.
  • Godfrey, Boyle, 1685 or 6-1756. A list of some useful discoveries, &c. made by B. Godfrey, Professor of Chymistry, of London, at present at Dublin, author of the Discovery to prevent Devastations by Fire. [Dublin: printed by Martineau and Kinneir, 1743]. ESTC No. N67833. Grub Street ID 49373.
  • Middleton, Christopher. A vindication of the conduct of Captain Christopher Middleton, in a Late Voyage on Board His Majesty's Ship the Furnace. For discovering a north-west passage to the Western American ocean. In answer to certain objections and aspersions of Arthur Dobbs, Esq; with an appendix: Containing The Captain's Instructions; Councils held; Reports of the Inferior Officers; Letters between Mr. Dobbs, Capt. Middleton, &c. Affidavits and other Vouchers refer'd to in the Captain's Answers, &c. With as much of the Log-Journal as relates to the Discovery. The Whole as lately deliver'd to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. To which is Annex'd, An Account of the Extraordinary Degrees and Surprizing Effect[s] of Cold in Hudson's Bay, North-America, read before the Royal Society. By Christopher Middleton, Late Commander of the Furnace, and F. R. S. Dublin: printed by and for I. Jackson in Meath-Street; Z. Martineau next Door to the Playhouse and J. Kinneir near Fishamble-Street both on the Lower Blind-Quay; and James Esdall in Fishamble-Street, Printers, M,DCC,XLIV. [1744]. ESTC No. T182433. Grub Street ID 218906.
  • A vindication of the conduct of Captain Christopher Middleton, in a late voyage on board His Majesty's ship the Furnace. For discovering a north-west passage to the western American ocean. In answer to certain objections and aspersions of Arthur Dobbs, Esq; with an appendix: ... By Christopher Middleton, ... Dublin: printed by and for Isaac Jackson; J. Kinneir and Z. Martineau; and James Esdall, 1744. ESTC No. T213083. Grub Street ID 240015.
  • A catalogue of curious and valuable books. Containing about 3000 volumes, in most faculties and languages, being the collection of the late Lord Bishop of Derry. Which will begin to be sold by auction, at his late dwelling house in William street on Monday the 4th of March 1744-5, at 11 o’Clock in the forenoon, and continue every day till the whole are sold. Catlaogues to be had at Mr. Charles Coleman’s. Dublin : printed by Kinneir and Long, at the Green Man on the lower Blind-key, M,DCC,XLV. [1745]. ESTC No. N475820. Grub Street ID 359255.
  • Ancourt, Abbé d'.. The lady's preceptor: or, a letter to a young lady of distinction, upon politeness: taken from the French of the Abbe d'Ancourt; and adapted to the religion, customs, and manners of the English nation. By a gentleman of Cambridge. Dublin: printed by J. Kinneir, and A. Long, 1745. ESTC No. T179780. Grub Street ID 216484.
  • Fontenoy. A new satyric ballad. To the tune of Bumpers' Squire Jones. Dublin: printed by Kinneir and Long, 1745. ESTC No. T214799. Grub Street ID 241104.
  • Gulliver, Lemuel, surgeon. The pleasures and felicity of marriage, displayed in ten books. By Lemuel Gulliver. Dublin: printed by Kinneir and Long, 1745. ESTC No. N68137. Grub Street ID 49625.
  • A poem on Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Barry. Dublin: printed by Kinneir and Long, 1746. ESTC No. T216972. Grub Street ID 242217.
  • One thousand seven hundred, and forty-five. A satiric epistle after the manner of Mr. Pope. [Dublin]: London printed, and Dublin re-printed by J. Kinneir, and A. Long, [1746?]. ESTC No. T195601. Grub Street ID 229245.
  • The irish cabinet. Or a collection of curious tracts relating to Ireland. Dublin: printed by J. Kinneir and A. Long, at the Corner of Fishamble-Street, near the Blind-Quay, M,DCCXLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T109917. Grub Street ID 162536.
  • English volunteer.. An authentic journal of the remarkable and bloody siege of Bergen-op-Zoom, by the French, under M. de Lowendahl. Begun July 14, and ended September 16, N.S. 1747; When the Place was taken by Storm, after as brave a Defence and desperate an Attack, of two Months and two Days, as ever was known. To the Journal is prefix'd a Description of the City and Marquisate of Bergen; and the Whole is illustrated by Notes explaining the Terms used in Fortification, Gunnery, &c. By an English volunteer, late of the garrison of Bergen-op-Zoom. Dublin: printed by Joshua Kinneir, at the Sign of the Green-Man, the Corner of Fishamble-street, MDCCXLVII. [1747]. ESTC No. T188803. Grub Street ID 224532.
  • , Merchant in Stockholm. Copy of a letter from a merchant in Stockholm, to his correspondent in London, Containing an impartial account of Dr. Alexander Blackwell, his plot, trial, character, and behaviour, both under examination, and at the place of execution. Together with the copy of a paper deliver’d to a friend upon the scaffold. Dublin : Printed by Joshua Kinneir, at the sign of the Green Man, the corner of Fishamble-street, MDCCXLVII. [1747]. ESTC No. T204558. Grub Street ID 359258.
  • Alexis: or the worthy unfortunate. Being a true narrative of the affecting case of a young gentleman, whose ruin was occasioned by the late rebellion. Dublin: printed by Joshua Kinneir, 1748. ESTC No. T214906. Grub Street ID 241180.
  • Boyer, Abel. The life of Queen Anne. In which is contained the most considerable transactions of her reign, ... Illustrated with her speeches, messages, letters, ... Dublin: printed by Joshua Kinneir, 1748. ESTC No. T217573. Grub Street ID 242481.
  • Thomson, James. Coriolanus. A tragedy. As it is acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden. By the late James Thomson. Dublin: printed by J. Kinneir; and A. Long, booksellers, 1749. ESTC No. T202916. Grub Street ID 233685.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Joshua Kinneir

  • The Harleian miscellany. Or, a collection of scarce, curious, and entertaining pamphlets and tracts, as well as in manuscript as in print, found in the late Earl of Oxford's library. ... Dublin: printed by and for J. Kinneir, and A. Long, 1744. ESTC No. T218934. Grub Street ID 243281.
  • Officer now of the service.. The discipline of war. Shewing the exercise and evolutions of the foot. To which is prefixed the manner of parading, ... By an officer now of the service. Dublin: printed by and for J. Kinneir and A. Long, 1744. ESTC No. T201675. Grub Street ID 232897.
  • An essay on the theatres: or, the art of acting; a poem. In imitation of Horace's Art of poetry,. [Dublin]: London printed, and Dublin re-printed by and for J. Kinneir, and A. Long, 1745. ESTC No. N31125. Grub Street ID 20031.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The parrot. By the authors of the Female spectator. Part I. Containing, no I, II, III, IV, and V. To be continued. Dublin: printed by and for J. Kinneir, and A. Long, 1746. ESTC No. T216971. Grub Street ID 242216.
  • The lady's drawing-room. Being a faithful picture of the great world. In which the various humours of both sexes are display'd. ... interspersed with entertaining and affecting novels. Dublin: printed by and for J. Kinneir, and A. Long, 1746. ESTC No. N20164. Grub Street ID 9566.
  • Perry, Charles. An essay on the smallpox. With regard 1st, to its specifick cause. 2dly, to its true nature and essence. 3dly, to the best methods of curing it. To which is subjoin'd, seasonable reflections and considerations on the modern practice of inoculation. ... By Charles Perry, ... [Dublin]: London printed, Dublin re-printed by and for J. Kinneir and A. Long, 1747. ESTC No. T59649. Grub Street ID 285652.