Publications of John Osborn (3)
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:
- "printed by x"; or
- "sold by x"; or
- "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):
- "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 John Osborn (3)
- Hoole, Charles. Vocabularium parvum Anglo-Latinum, in usum puerulorum qui prima Latinæ linguæ tyrocinia faciunt. A little vocabulary English and Latin. For the use of little children that begin to learn the Latin tongue. By Charles Hoole, M.A. Corrected and amended. London: printed by J. Osborn and T. Longman, 1728. ESTC No. N64607. Grub Street ID 46596.
Sold by John Osborn (3)
- Berdmore, Samuel. The love of our country: or, a sincere and hearty concern for our present happy constitution in Church and state. Recommended in a sermon preach'd at St. Mary's in Nottingham, March the 17th. 1716-7. At the assizes held there. By Samuel Berdmore, M. A. Vicar of the said Church. Publish'd at the Request of the High Sheriff, and the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury. Nottingham: printed and sold by William Ward, near the White Lyon, on the Long Row; and by T. Varnam and J. Osborn in Lombard-Street, London, 1717. ESTC No. T38683. Grub Street ID 268125.
- Gavin, Antonio. A master-Key to popery. In five parts. Part I. Containing a discovery of the most secret practices of the secular, and regular Romish priests in their auricular confession. Part II. A true Copy of the Pope's yearly Bull of Indulgences and Pardon of Sins, to all those that serve in the War against the Enemies of the Romish Religion. The Explanation of the Bull, with some Remarks upon it. Part III. An Account of their Masses, privileg'd Altars, Transubstantiation, and Purgatory, and of the Means, the Priests make use of, to delude the People. Part IV. Of the Inquisitors, and their Practices in several Instances. Part V. Of their prayers, adoration of images, and relicks, &c. By D. Antonio Gavin, born and educated in Spain, some Years secular Priest in the Church of Rome, and since 1715, Minister of the Church of England. London: printed for J. Stephens, at the Bible in Butcher-Row, near St. Clement's Church in the Strand; and sold by A. Bettesworth, J. Osborn, and T. Longman, in Pater-Noster-Row; W. Meadows, and J. Brotherton. in Cornhill; J. Maceuen in Edinburgh; and by the booksellers of Dublin, 1725. ESTC No. T140325. Grub Street ID 188101.
- Gavin, Antonio. A master-key to popery. In five parts. Part I. Containing, A discovery of the most secret practices of the secular, and regular Romish priests in their auricular confession. Part II. A true copy of the Pope’s yearly bull of indulgences and pardon of sins, to all those that serve in the war against the enemies of the Romish religion. The explanation of the bull, with some remarks upon it. Part III. An account of their masses, privileg’d altars, transubstantiation, and purgatory, and of the means, the priests make use of, to delude the people. Part IV. Of the inquisitors, and their practices in several instances. Part V. Of their prayers, adoration of images, and relicks, &c. By D. Antonio Gavin, born and educated in Spain, some years secular priest in the Church of Rome, and since 1715, minister of the Church of England. London: Printed for J. Stephens, at the Bible in Butcher-Row, near St. Clement’s Church in the Strand; and sold by A. Bettesworth, J. Osborn, and T. Longman, in Pater-noster-Row; W. Meadows, and J. Brotherton. in Cornhill; J. Maceuen in Edinburgh; and by the booksellers of Dublin, 1725. ESTC No. T205942. Grub Street ID 235559.
- Gavin, Antonio. A master-Key to popery: containing, I. The damages which the mass causeth, &c. II. A Catalogue of Miracles wrought by the Consecrated Wafer. III. The Miracles of many living Persons. IV. The Revelations of three Nuns. V. The life of the good primate, and Metropolitan of Aragon, &c. omitted in the Second Volume. Vol.III. By the Reverend Mr. Gavin, &c. London: printed for J. Stephens, at the Bible in Butcher Row, over against the Bear and Harrow Tavern without Temple-Bar. And sold by A. Bettesworth, J. Osbourn, and T. Longman in Paternoster Row, W. Meadows and J. Brotherton in Cornhill, and the booksellers of London and Westminster. By E. Mackeuen in Edinburgh, and by the booksellers of Dublin, MDCCXXVI. [1726]. ESTC No. T140323. Grub Street ID 188099.
Printed for John Osborn (3)
- Madden, Samuel. Memoirs of the twentieth century. Being original letters of state, under George the Sixth: relating to the most important events in Great-Britain and Europe, as to church and state, arts and sciences, trade, taxes, and treaties, peace, and war: and characters of the greatest persons of those times; from the middle of the eighteenth, to the end of the twentieth century, and the world. Received and revealed in the year 1728; and now published, for the instruction of all eminent statesmen, churchmen, patriots, politicians, projectors, papists, and protestants. In six volumes. Vol.I. London: printed for Messieurs Osborn and Longman, Davis, and Batley, in Pater-Noster-Row; Strahan, and Clarke, in Cornhill; Rivington, Robinson, Astley, and Austen, in St. Paul’s Church-Yard; Gosling, in Fleetstreet; Nourse, by Temple-Bar; Prevost, and Millar, in the Strand; Parker, in Pall-Mall; Jolliffe, by St. James’s; Brindley, Shropshire, and Smith, in Bondstreet; and Gouge, and Stagg, in Westminster-Hall, 1733. ESTC No. T124606. Grub Street ID 174790.
- Marsden, Robert. Zeal for the duty's of the Christian religion as establish'd in the Church of England; in opposition, both to the Additions of the Church of Rome, and the Prejudice of our Dissenters. A sermon preach'd at the assizes held at Nottingham. On Friday the 24th of July, 1713. Before the Right Honourable the Lord Chief Justice Trevor, And the Honourable Mr. Baron Price. By Robert Marsden, B. D. Rector of Rempston, and late Fellow of Jesus Colledge in Cambridge. Published at the Request of the High Sheriff, and the Gentlemen of the Grand Jury. London: printed for W. Ward Bookseller in Nottingham, and Tho. Varnam and J. Osborn, at the Oxford-Arms in Lombard-Street (london), 1713. ESTC No. T52919. Grub Street ID 279915.
- Acton, Samuel. A sermon proving slowness to anger, the truest gallantry (occasionally Preach'd,) on Observation, to what little Purpose the Different Sentiments of Men, defended and propagated with so much Zeal and Satyr, tendeth? as hath appear'd of late both from the Pulpit and Press, which for the general, has only serv'd to amuse the World, to put all into a Ferment at home, to keep differing Parties at an undue Distance, to render 'em less Serviceable to the Publick, and more troublesome in their Families, than otherwise they might be, wou'd they consider, and patiently hear each other. By S.A. Salop: printed for Tho. Varnum & John Osborn at the Oxford-Arms in Lumbard-Street, London; and John Rogers in Shrewsbury, [1713?]. ESTC No. T47948. Grub Street ID 275926.
- Reynolds, John. Death's vision represented in a philosophical, sacred poem. Writ at the request of the famous Mr. John Lock. London: printed for Tho. Varnam. and John Osborn. in Lumbard street, 1713. ESTC No. T83936. Grub Street ID 304349.
- Berdmore, Samuel. A sermon against murmuring. Preach'd at the assizes, at St. Mary's Nottingham, Aug. 16. 1715. ... By Samuel Berdmore, ... London: printed for William Ward bookseller in Nottingham, and T. Varnam and J. Osborn, 1715. ESTC No. N22523. Grub Street ID 11871.
- Clavis Virgilian?: pars prima. A numerical key to the Bucolics of P. Virgilius Maro. Shewing by Figures Answering to each Word in every Line, in what Order they ought to be taken, so as to Construe into good Sense; in a Method so easy, that a Learner of the meanest Attainment in the Latin Tongue, may be enabled to Construe his Lesson with Ease and Pleasure to himself, and without Trouble to the Master. Together with the argument of each eclogue in English, both according to the Delphini Notes, and those of Minellius. For the use of schools. London: printed by S. Keimer, for Thomas Varnam and John Osborn, at the Oxford Arms in Lombard-Street, MDCCXV. [1715]. ESTC No. N27577. Grub Street ID 16825.
- Berdmore, Samuel. A sermon preach'd before the Artillery Company of Nottingham, on Monday the 28th of May, 1716. being His Majesty's birth-day; at St. Mary's in Nottingham. By Samuel Berdmore, ... London: printed for T. Varnam and J. Osborn, 1716. ESTC No. N22965. Grub Street ID 12324.
- Boerhaave, Herman. A new method of chemistry; Including the Theory and Practice of that Art: Laid down on Mechanical Principles, and accommodated to the Uses of Life. The whole making A Clear and Rational System of Chemical Philosophy. To which is prefix'd A Critical History of Chemistry and Chemists, From the Origin of the Art to the present Time. Written by the very Learned H. Boerhaave, Professor of Chemistry, Botany, and Medicine in the University of Leyden, and Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. Translated from the Printed Edition, Collated with the best Manuscript Copies. By P. Shaw, M.D. and E. Chambers, Gent. With additional Notes and Sculptures. London: printed for J. Osborn and T. Longman, at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row, M.DCC.XXVII. [1727]. ESTC No. N12002. Grub Street ID 2009.
- Horne, Johannes van. Micro-Techne; or, a methodical introduction to the art of chirurgery: in which every branch thereof is handled in a most natural, compendious and perspicuous manner; and constant References are made, under each Head, to the Best Authors who have treated on that Subject more largely. Together with a Critique on the most Eminent Writers in the Art. Written in Latin by Johannes van Horne, Professor of Anatomy and Chirurgery in the University of Leyden. Translated with additions, by Henry Banyer, surgeon. London: printed for John Osborn and Thomas Longman, in Pater-Noster-Row; and Francis Fayram at the Royal Exchange, M.DCC.XXX. [1730]. ESTC No. N4052. Grub Street ID 27495.
- Addison, Joseph; Steele, Sir Richard. The lucubrations of Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; revised and corrected by the author. ... London: printed for E. Nutt, J. Knapton, B. Sprint, D. Midwinter and A. Ward, J. Tonson, R. Gosling, W. Innys and R. Manby, J. Osborn and T. Longman, R. Robinson, B. Motte, and H. Lintott, M DCC XXXIII. [1733]. ESTC No. N11680. Grub Street ID 1685.