Publications of R. C.

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 R. C.

  • The state of the charity for the relief of poor clergymen, and their widows and children, in Essex, and that part of Hertfordshire which is within the diocese of London; as it stood at the court of audit, holden at Chelmsford, on Tuesday the 14th day of August, 1798, and by adjournment on Tuesday the 2d day of October following. Contributions. The Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London, President, - 10 10 0 Sir William Scott, Knt. Chancellor of the Diocese of London, 2 2 0 The Worshipful Doctor Swabey, Commissary, : - - - - - - : 1 1 0 13 13 0 Subscriptions and Donations to this charity, Are received by Messrs. Goslings, Bankers, Fleet-Street London; and R. C. Stanes, Printer, Chelmsford. Chelmsford: printed by R. C. Stanes, 1799. ESTC No. T180060. Grub Street ID 216737.

Printed for R. C.

  • Howe, John. The living temple: or, a designed improvement of that notion that a good man is the temple of God. Part I. Concerning God's Existence, and his Conversableness with Man. Against Atheism, or the Epicurean Deism. By John Howe, M. A. Minister of the Gospel, and sometime Fellow of M. C. Oxon. London: printed for R. C. and sold by John Lawrence, at the Angel in the Poultry, over-against the Compter, 1702. ESTC No. N19191. Grub Street ID 8621.

Author

  • C., R.. Paradise within us: or, The happie mind. By Robert Crofts. London: Printed by B. Alsop and T. Fawcet, 1640. ESTC No. S116646. Grub Street ID 136334.
  • C., R.. The vvay to happinesse on earth. Concerning riches. Honour. Conjugall love. Eating. Drinking. By R.C. London: printed for G.H., 1641. ESTC No. R27922. Grub Street ID 111057.
  • C., R.. True newes from Hull. Being a perfect relation of a conspiracy there by divers cavaliers comming in disguised habits, and entring themselves as souldiers, who intended to have surprised the tovvne, and to have killed Sir Iohn Hotham. With the manner how their wicked purpose was discovered, and they delivered up to safe custody. By R.C. London: printed for Fr. Wright, [1642]. ESTC No. R15577. Grub Street ID 63498.
  • C., R.. A true report of the late good successe in Ireland. From thence received in London, May 2. 1642. London: printed by Matthew Simmons, 1642. ESTC No. R19652. Grub Street ID 77230.
  • C., R.. Eight very serious and considerable queries, humbly tendred to the view and pious consideration of the Godly and greatly honoured promoters of the reformation of the church or churches of Jesus Christ in England. By a weak and obscure, yet most cordiall, indeavourer to advance that glorious designe. London: printed, 1646. ESTC No. R205578. Grub Street ID 82286.
  • C., R.. The present condition of Dublin in Ireland; with the manner of the siege, and how it is straitened, by the Marquesse of Ormond, L. Inchequin, &c. Represented in two letters, from a Colonell in Dublin, to his brother a merchant in London. Dated at Dublin, June 22. 1649. London: printed for Henry Crips, and Lodowick Lloyd, 1649. ESTC No. R206079. Grub Street ID 82655.
  • C., R.. An elegie on the death of the Right Honourable and most noble heroe, Robert Blake, late generall of the English fleet at sea together with a commemoration of the most victories by him heretofore ob[t]ained against the Hollanders : and his remarkable successes, to the glory of the English nation, afterwards against the Spaniard and Turkish pirats, in cleering the seas and taking and drowning their ships, and burning of many of the best of them in their strongest and most fenced havens : who departed this life on Friday, August the 7, 1657. London: Printed for Tho. Vere and W. Gilbertson .., 1657. ESTC No. R34780. Grub Street ID 117289.
  • C., R.. A copie of a letter written by a friend, to one who would be owned for minister of that parish from whom he vvith-holds all ordinances but preaching. It may also serve to vindicate the said parish from many unjust clamours. London: printed for William Ley at Pauls Chain neer Doctors Commons, 1657. ESTC No. R173309. Grub Street ID 66922.
  • C., R.. A fevv plain vvords to the officers of the army by way of councel, b from one who was conversant with them for the space of about 14 years. By Richard Crane. London: printed by Thomas Simmons, at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate, 1659. ESTC No. R39851. Grub Street ID 121712.
  • C., R.. Something spoken in vindication & clearing of the people of God called Quakers; that they have not forfeited their liberty in the declaration, nor made ill use of the Kings indulgence, by any plots, or murders, or insurrections in a pretence of worship, and serving of God. The Lord is witness, and you have tried us, and found that we are none of those people the Kings proclamation takes hold upon, but ought to have our meetings. London: printed for Robert Wilson at the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-mill in Martins Le Grand, [1660]. ESTC No. R483630. Grub Street ID 125333.
  • C., R.. A short, but a strict account taken of Babylons merchants, vvho are now forcing the sale of their old, rusty, cankered ware, upon the people of these nations. And a stretching them out by their line (which as they say) is the Scriptures in the New Testament, as they call themselves Christian ministers; also a comparing them with those that spake them forth as their examples, that all people may see with whom they run paralel [sic]. By one that hath fed upon the whores flesh these many years, handed to him by these merchants, and their brethren; but now witnesseth it in him consumed by fire. Richard Crane. London: printed for Thomas Simmons, at the signe of the Bull and Mouth, near Aldersgate, 1660. ESTC No. R29281. Grub Street ID 112281.
  • C., R.. The Long Parliament is not revived by Tho. Philips. Or, An answer to Tho. Philips his Long Parliament revived. By R. C. London: printed for N. W. at the Kings-head in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1660. ESTC No. R208160. Grub Street ID 84446.
  • C., R.. Quæries propounded, to George Fox and his ministers. To answer from a paper wrote by George Fox, intituled, An epistle from the people called Quakers to all people to read over, of what they hold concerning God, Christ, his death, resurrection, redemption, salvation, justification, blood, faith and hope. By a lover of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the Virgin Mary, by the power of the holy Ghost, for the Christ and mans saviour, as that promised seed, that God to Adam said should break tde [sic] serpents head. London: printed for Anna Brewster, at the Golden Bellows in Fore-street, against the first Postern near Cripplegate, 1669. ESTC No. R29621. Grub Street ID 112578.
  • C., R.. Minerva, or, The art of weaving: containing the antiquity, utility and excellency of weaving. Written in verse, and divided into three parts, by R.C. London: printed for Joseph Moxon, and sold at his shop on Ludgate-hill at the signe of Atlas; and by James Moxon neer Charing-Cross in the Strand, right against King Harry the Eighths Inn, 1677. ESTC No. R7949. Grub Street ID 128158.
  • C., R.. The Italian princess. Or, Loves persecutions. A new romance. Written by Row. Carleton, Gent. London: printed, and are to be sold by Henry Bonwicke, at the Red Lion in St Paul's Church-Yard, MDCLXXXI. [1681]. ESTC No. R22843. Grub Street ID 101112.
  • C., R.. The Triumphant weaver: or, The art of weaving discuss'd and handled. Plainly shewing the various opinions of divers writers, concerniug [sic] the first original and contriver of this art, now so excellent and useful in all habitable parts of the world; divided into three parts. The first contains, the antiquity of this said art and mistery. The second contains, the great use and unavoidable necessity of the same. And the third treats of, the great and admired excellency of this never-enough esteemed art of weaving. Written all in verse for the divertisement of all either young or old, who are naturally inclin'd to the serious study or practice of the said art, or practically concerned to the same for a livelihood: hoping that it will not please those only, but also such gentile souls as delight in curiosity. [London]: Printed for J. Deacon, at the Rain-Bow in Holbourn, near St. Andrews Church, 1682. ESTC No. R14655. Grub Street ID 62659.
  • C., R.. The royal grammar compiled formerly by Mr. William Lilly, now modestly endeavoured to be rendred plain and obvious to the capacity of youth, by a supplement of things defective, and alteration of things amiss, together with a poetical index. By R. C. London: printed by Edward Jones, for the author, and sold by Thomas Flesher, at the Angel and Crown in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1685. ESTC No. R216721. Grub Street ID 91594.
  • C., R.. The royal grammar compiled formerly by Mr. William Lilly, now modestly endeavoured to be rendred plain and obvious to the capacity of youth, by a supplement of things defective, and alteration of things amiss. Together with a poetical index. By R.C. London: printed for Awnsham Churchill, at the Sign of the Black-Swan in Ave-Mary-lane, anno MDCLXXXVIII. [1688]. ESTC No. R25798. Grub Street ID 109185.
  • C., R.. The Jesuits ghost, with the prayer of the Turkish monarch to Christ through which he obtained a mighty victory against the papists, at the field of Varna, occasioned by their wicked perjury, in breaking that league they had so solemnly sworn to keep written by R.C. London: Printed by John Wallis, for the author, 1689. ESTC No. R42517. Grub Street ID 123822.
  • C., R.. The Jesuits ghost, with the prayer of the Turkish monarch to Christ. Through which he obtained a mighty victory against the Papists, at the field of Varna. Occasioned by their wicked perjury, in breaking that League they had so solemnly sworn to keep. Written by R.C. London: printed by John Wallis, for the author, 1689. ESTC No. R226897. Grub Street ID 99817.
  • C., R.. Vermiculars destroyed, with an historical account of worms: collected from the best authors, as well ancient as modern. And experiments proved by that admirable invention of the microscope; with directions for the taking those most famous medicines, intituled Pulvis benedictus, &c. Also diagnostick signs of worms, and signs of health in children, with the various causes of vermiculars. By R.C. chymist, living at the Golden-Ball in Devonshire-street near the square wihout Bishopsgate. London: printed by J. Wallis for the author, [1691?]. ESTC No. R35641. Grub Street ID 118021.
  • C., R.. Vermiculars destroyed, with an historical account of worms: collected from the best authors, as well ancient as modern. And experiments proved by that admirable invention of the microscope; with directions for the taking those most famous medicines, entituled, pulvis benedictus, &c. Also diagnostick signs of worms, and signs of health in children: with the various causes of vermiculars. By R.C. chymist, living at the Golden Ball in Devonshire-street, without Bishopsgate, 1691. London: printed by J[eremiah]. Wilkins, for the author, [1691]. ESTC No. R173941. Grub Street ID 67279.
  • C., R.. Vermiculars destroyed with an historical account of worms, collected from the best authors as well ancient as modern, and expe[r]iments [pr]oved by that admirable invention of the microscope : with directions for the taking those most famous medicines, intituled Pulvis Benedictus, &c. : also diagnostick signs of worms and signs of health in children, with the various causes of vermiculars / by R.C., chymist ... London: Printed by J. Wilkins for the author, [1691?]. ESTC No. R39983. Grub Street ID 121831.
  • C., R.. Vermiculars destroyed, with an historical account of worms: collected from the best authors, as well ancient as modern. And experiments proved by that admirable invention of the microscope, with directions for the taking those most famous medicines, entituled, Pulvis benedictus, &c. Also diagnostick signs of worms, and signs of health in children: with the various causes of vermiculars. By R.C. chymist, living at the Golden Ball in Devonshire-street, without Bishopsgate. 1693. London: printed by J. Wilkins, for the author, [1693]. ESTC No. R37672. Grub Street ID 119888.
  • C., R.. Divine hymns, and other extempory poems. By R. C. London: printed for the author, 1695. ESTC No. R170336. Grub Street ID 65046.
  • C., R.. Salvation laid on its right foundation: or, The free grace of God prov'd to be the only ground of, and to have the alone stroke in, the matter of our salvation. Being the sum of two sermons, preach'd to a country auditory. By an admirer of grace, and the freeness of it. London: printed, and are to be sold by R[ichard]. Baldwin at the Oxford Arms in Warwick-lane, 1698. ESTC No. R34781. Grub Street ID 117290.
  • C., R.. Lithobolia: or, The stone-throwing devil. Being an exact and true account (by way of journal) of the various actions of infernal spirits, or (devils incarnate) witches, or both; and the great disturbance and amazement they gave to George Waltons family, at a place call'd Great Island in the province of New-Hantshire in New-England, chiefly in throwing about (by an invisible hand) stones, bricks, and brick-bats of all sizes, with several other things, as hammers, mauls, iron-crows, spits, and other domestick utensils, as came into their hellish minds, and this for the space of a quarter of a year. By R.C. Esq; who was a sojourner in the same family the whole time, and an ocular witness of these diabolick inventions. The contents hereof being manifestly known to the inhabitants of that province, and persons of other provinces, and is upon record in his Majesties council-court held for that province. London: printed, and are to be sold by E[lizabeth]. Whitlook [i.e. Whitlock] near Stationers-Hall, 1698. ESTC No. R8747. Grub Street ID 128883.
  • C., R.. The prodigals pilgrimage a poem wherein is contained all the remarkable passages occurring from his birth to his return. London: Printed for J. Nutt .., 1698. ESTC No. R5668. Grub Street ID 126092.