Publications of George Wilson

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 George Wilson

  • Gentleman at Harrogate.. An account of Fort-Montague at Knaresbrough; in a letter, from a gentleman, at Harrogate, to his friend in London. Knaresbrough: printed by George Wilson; and sold by Governor Hill, [1791]. ESTC No. T183332. Grub Street ID 219745.

Author

  • Wilson, George. Bishop Burnet's proofs of the Pretender's illegitimacy; Extracted from The History of his Own Times. And Compared with the Account given by other Writers of the same Fact, viz. Mr. Archdeacon Echard, F. Orleans, Mr. Salmon, and Bevil Higgons, Esq; By George Wilson Esq;. London: printed for M. Smithson near the Royal-Exchange, M.DCC.XXIV. [1724]. ESTC No. T22826. Grub Street ID 248767.
  • Wilson, George. Bribes no perquisites: or, the case of the Earl of Macclesfield. Being impartial observations upon his Lordship's tryal. Wherein the Nature of his Crime, and the Arguments Pro and Con are faithfully Summed up, and represented to the publick View, for general Use and Information. with Proper Observations upon the Pleadings of the Managers, and a Rationale upon the Reasoning of his Lordship's Counsel. By George Wilson, Esq. London: printed for A. More, near St. Paul's, [1726]. ESTC No. T95168. Grub Street ID 314692.
  • Wilson, George. The trial of the Earl of Macclesfield, faithfully abridg'd. With remarks thereon: wherein the nature of his crime, and the arguments pro and con. are impartially summed up, and represented to the publick View, for the general Use and Information. With Proper Observations upon the Pleadings of the Managers, and a Rationale upon the Reasoning of his Lordship's Council. By George Wilson, Esq;. London: printed for A. Moore, near St. Paul's, [1727]. ESTC No. T5372. Grub Street ID 280652.
  • Wilson, George. Reasons of dissent from, and protestation against the Reverend Presbytery of Perth, their sustaining a call for Mr. David Black probationer, in order to supply the vacancy in the town and parish of Perth, occasioned by the death of the Reverend Mr. William Stewart. By one of the members of the Kirk-Session of the said burgh, in his own name, and in name of all who adhere thereto, ... Edinburgh: printed by T. Lumisden and J. Robertson, 1737. ESTC No. T170460. Grub Street ID 208167.
  • Wilson, George. A practical treatise of fines and recoveries: containing a greater variety of correct precedents ... than ever yet published, ... Revised and corrected by a gentleman of the Inner Temple, ... [London]: In the Savoy: printed by Henry Lintot; for D. Browne; J. Shuckburgh; and J. Worrall, 1753. ESTC No. N12297. Grub Street ID 2307.
  • Wilson, George. The youth's pocket-companion: or, universal preceptor. Containing what is absolutely necessary for every young man to know and practice, under the following heads, viz. A plain and easy grammar of the English language, ... By George Wilson, ... London: printed for J. Cooke, [1756?]. ESTC No. T230480. Grub Street ID 250105.
  • Wilson, George. A copy of two letters to the Rev. Mr Alexander Moncrieff, Minister at Abernethy; relating to his new constitution of synod, and their pretended censures: Containing also some Answers unto, or Observes upon, his Letter directed unto his friend at Aberdeen, dated 3d November 1758. By an elder of the associate kirk-session of Perth. Edinburgh: printed by E. and J. Robertsons; sold at their shop. The second below the Exchange, MDCCLIX. [1759]. ESTC No. T119313. Grub Street ID 170734.
  • Wilson, George. The youth's pocket-companion: or, universal preceptor. Containing what is absolutely necessary for every young man to know and practise, under the following heads, viz. A compleat grammar of the English language, ... By George Wilson, ... London: printed for J. Cooke, 1769. ESTC No. T226146. Grub Street ID 247778.
  • Wilson, George. Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the King's Courts at Westminster, in two parts. Part 1. Containing cases in the Court of King's Bench, &c. beginning in Hilary term in the 16th year of the reign of King George the Second, and ending in Hilary term in the 26th. Part II. Containing cases in the Court of Common Pleas, &c. beginning in Hilary term in the 26th year of ... George the Second, and ending in Trinity Term in the 9th year of ... George the Third. By George Wilson, ... London: printed by His Majesty's Law-printers for the author and sold by J. Worrall and B. Tovey, 1770. ESTC No. T44777. Grub Street ID 273142.
  • Wilson, George. A practical treatise of fines and recoveries: containing a greater variety of precedents ... than ever yet published, ... The second edition, corrected and enlarged with many additional precedents, by George Wilson, ... London: printed by W. Strahan and M. Woodfall; for P. Uriel; B. Tovey, and W. Flexney, 1773. ESTC No. T95233. Grub Street ID 314758.
  • Wilson, George. Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the King's Courts at Westminster, in two parts. Part I. Containing cases in the Court of King's Bench, &c. beginning in Hilary Term the 16th year of the Reign of King George the second, and ending in Hilary Term in the 26th. Part II. Containing cases in Court of Common Pleas, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 26th year of the Reign of King George the second, and ending in Trinity Term the 9th year of the Reign of his present Majesty King George the Third. By George Wilson, Serjeant at Law. With Tables of the Principal Matters, Names of the Cases contained in both Parts; and some Accounts of the Lords the Judges, Serjeants at Law, and most eminent Counsel attending the Bar during that Time. London: printed by his Majesty's Law Printers, for P. Uriel, in the Inner Temple Lane; and E. Brooke, (successor to Mess. Worrall and Tovey,) in Bell-Yard, Temple-Bar, MDCCLXXIX. [1779]. ESTC No. T96792. Grub Street ID 316240.
  • Wilson, George. Reports of the cases argued and adjudged in the King's Courts at Westminster. In three parts. Part I. Containing Cases in the Court of King's Bench, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 16th Year of the Reign of King George the Second, and ending in Hilary Term in the 26th. Part II. Containing Cases in the Court of Common Pleas, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 26th Year of the Reign of King George the Second, and ending in Trinity Term in the 9th Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King George the Third. Part III. Containing Cases in the Court of Common Pleas, from Michaelmas Term in the 10th Year of King George the Third, 1769, until Easter Term in the 14th Year of his Reign 1774, (with four Cases before that Time) ending with the Case of Tyssen Esq. against Clarke, in a Writ of Right, tried at the Bar by the Grand Assize; wherein the Demandant recovered seisin in fee of Tenements whereof his Father (whose heir he is) was seised within Sixty Years then last past: Together with. Dublin: printed for R. Moncrieffe, No. 16, Capel-Street, M,DCC,LXXXIV. [1784]. ESTC No. N12818. Grub Street ID 2789.
  • Wilson, George. A practical treatise on fines and recoveries: containing the principles, cases and statutes relating to, and a great variety of precedents of fines and recoveries. Together with Instructions for Drawing, Entering and Passing them. By the late Serjeant Wilson. Dublin: printed by J. Moore, No. 45, College-Green, 1792. ESTC No. N12296. Grub Street ID 2306.
  • Wilson, George. Reports of the cases argued and adjudged in the King's Courts at Westminster. In three parts. Part. I. Containing Cases in the Court of King's Bench, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 16th Year of the Reign of King George the Second, and ending in Hilary Term in the 26th. Part II. Containing Cases in the Court of Common Pleas, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 26th Year of the Reign of King George the Second, and ending in Trinity Term in the 9th Year of the Reign of his present Majesty King George the Third. Part III. Containing Cases in the Court of Common Pleas, from Michaelmas Term in the 10th Year of King George the Third, 1769, until Easter Term in the 14th Year of his Reign 1774, (with four Cases before that Time) ending with the Cases of Tyssen Esq; against Clarke, in a Writ of Right, tried at the Bar by the Grand Assize; wherein the Demandant recovered seisin in fee of Tenements whereof his Father (whose heir he is) was seised within Sixty Years then last past: Together wi. Dublin: printed for Luke White, 1792. ESTC No. N12823. Grub Street ID 2794.
  • Wilson, George. A practical treatise on fines and recoveries: containing the principles, cases and statutes relating to, and a great variety of precedents of, fines and recoveries. Together with Instructions for Drawing, Entering, and Passing them. By the late Serjeant Wilson. London: printed by A. Strahan and W. Woodfall, Law Printers to the King's most excellent Majesty; for W. Flexney; E. and R. Brooke; T. Whieldon and J. Butterworth; and W. Clarke and Son, 1793. ESTC No. N12291. Grub Street ID 2301.
  • Wilson, George. Sixteen sermons, prepared for the press from the manuscript of a clergyman, now deceased, of the county of Salop. London: printed for W. Richardson, Bookseller, Royal-Exchange, and P. Sandford, Shrewsbury, 1797. ESTC No. T88922. Grub Street ID 308860.
  • Wilson, George. Reports of cases argued and adjudged in the King's Courts at Westminster. By George Wilson, Esq. Serjeant at Law. In three volumes. Vol. I. Containing Cases in the Court of King's Bench, &c. beginning in Hilary Term in the 16th Year of the Reign of King George the Second, and ending in Hilary Term in the 26th of the same Reign. London: printed by A. Strahan, Law-Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, for E. and R. Brooke and J. Rider, J. Butterworth, W. Clarke and Son, and R. Pheney, 1799. ESTC No. T97775. Grub Street ID 317145.