Publications of Robert Baldwin

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 the seller and printer roles in combination, or an absence of the printer's name following "London: printed:" or "London: printed,":

  1. "printed and sold by x"; or "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x"; or "printed: and sold by x"; or "printed, and sold by x";  and so on.

On this last point, trade publishers may seem to have "printed" or "published" the work, though they did not own the copyright. The lists below reflect only the information on the imprint, except where ESTC provides extra information.

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. Booksellers may also be 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 (or what we might call a wholesaler) rather than a copyright holder. Copyright owners may also be identified by the words printed for. 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.

He cautions, "The only way to avoid being misled is to regard any imprint which says a book is printed for a publisher as meaning it is sold by him" (5).

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).

Sold by Robert Baldwin

  • Deacon, Thomas. A full, true, and comprehensive view of Christianity: containing a short historical account of religion from the creation of the world to the fourth century after our Lord Jesus Christ: as also the complete duty of a Christian In relation to Faith, Practice, Worship, and Rituals, set forth Sincerely, without regard to any Modern Church, Sect, or Party, as it is taught in the Holy Scriptures, was delivered by the Apostles, and received by the Universal Church of Christ during the Four First Centuries. The whole succinctly and fully laid down in two catechisms, a shorter and a longer, each divided into Two Parts; Whereof the one comprehends the Sacred History, the other the Christian Doctrine. The Shorter Catechism being suited to the meanest Capacity, and calculated for the Use of Children; And the Longer for that of the more Knowing Christian. To which is prefixed A discourse upon the design of these catechisms, and upon the best Method of instructing Youth in them. London: printed for S. Newton, Bookseller in Manchester; and sold by Mess. Rivington, and Mr. Hinton, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; Mr. Birt, in Ave-Mary Lane; Mr. Baldwin, fronting Stationers-Hall near Ludgate-Street; Mr. Osborn, in Paternoster-Row; Mess. Manby and Cox [London] on Ludgate-Hill; Mr. Hildyard, in York; and Mr. Scholfield, in Rochdale, MDCCXLVII. [1747]. ESTC No. T124480. Grub Street ID 174671.
  • Clayton, Robert. The hebrew bible critically examin'd in regard to its chronology, and fully prov'd to be more accurate and correct than any other scripture-chronology hitherto extant. Wherein The most important Facts are very carefully compar'd with those recorded by the most Authentic Ancient Historians; and such Difficulties as occur from the Flood to the Death of Moses, are fully explain'd and reconcil'd. To which are added, Several Critical Conjectures with Respect to the Land of Egypt, during the Period above-mention'd. Wherein The Travels of the Children of Israel are attempted to be punctually settled and adjusted, and more peculiarly requisite to be read at this Critical Conjuncture, as there are such warm Divisions between the Jews and the Christians. The whole illustrated with two accurate maps. By the Right Reverend Robert, Lord Bishop of Clogher. The second edition, corrected.. London: printed for J. Brindley, Bookseller to his Late Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, in New Bond-Street: and sold by Messieurs Birt, Hitch, Ware, Rivington, Cox, Baldwin, and Cooper, near St. Paul's; J. Hodges, on London-Bridge; Mess. Whiston and White, in Fleet-Street; Messieurs Brotherton, Meadows, Blackston, Ward, and Bourn, at the Royal Exchange; and by all the most noted Booksellers of Great Britain, and Ireland. M.DCC.LIV. [1754]. ESTC No. T107634. Grub Street ID 160647.

Printed for Robert Baldwin

  • The court and city register for the year 1747. London: printed for R. Amey, C. Hitch and M. Cooper, J. Hodges, T. Baldwin & J. Jefferies, J. Brindley and J. Jolliffe, 1747. ESTC No. T34303. Grub Street ID 264623.
  • New and correct lists of both Houses of Parliament: according to Garter King at Arms' list of the test-roll. Summoned to meet (for their third session) the 16th of Nevember 1749. Seventh edition, carefully done by the compilers of the former lists, and revis'd by several Members of Parliament.. London: printed for J. Barnes, late Amey's, J. Brindley;, J. Jolliffe, C. Hitch and M. Cooper; J. and J. Rivington; J. Hodges; R. Baldwin; and J. Jefferies, 1749. ESTC No. N66084. Grub Street ID 47867.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Robert Baldwin

  • New and correct lists of both Houses of Parliament: summoned to meet the 10th of November 1747. Containing, 1. A list of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, with the posts they hold under the government; the titles of their eldest sons, and their residence in town. 2. An alphabetical list of the lords, with their country seats. 3. Lists of the knights of the Garter, Thistle, and Bath; with a table of fees paid at their creation. 4. A list of the counties, boroughs, &c. In the order they are call'd over in the House; with the names of the members return'd for each, the places they possess, and their country seats. 5. An Alphabetical list of the members of the House of Commons, the place each is chosen for, and their residence in town. And an alphabetical list of the counties, cities, and boroughs, with the pages where their representatives are to be found; and several other useful particulars and distinctions throughout the whole: also, a list of members in the last parliament not in this. Car. London: Printed and sold by M. Amey in the court of requests, and at Charing-Cross; J. Brindley in New-Bond-street; J. Jolliffe in St. James's-street; C. Hitch and M. Cooper in Pater-noster-Row; J. Hodges facing St. Magnus's Church, London-Bridge; R. Baldwin against Stationers-Hall; and J. Jefferies in Ludgate-street, [1747]. ESTC No. T206371. Grub Street ID 235856.
  • The court and city register for the year 1748. Containing, I. An almanack for the current year. II. New and correct lists of both Houses of Parliament. III. The court register. IV. Lists of the army and navy. All corrected to the present time. London: printed and sold by M Amey; J. Brindley; J. Jolliffe; C. Hitch and M. Cooper; J. Hodges; R. Baldwin; and J. Jefferies, [1748]. ESTC No. T34304. Grub Street ID 264624.
  • New and correct lists of both Houses of Parliament: containing, 1. A list of the Lords ... 2. An alphabetical list of the Lords, ... 3. Lists of the Knights of the Garter, ... 4. A list of the counties, boroughs, ... 5. An alphabetical list of the Members of the House of Commons,. Fourth edition, carefully done by the compilers of the former lists, and revis'd by several Members of Parliament.. London: printed and sold by M Amey; J. Brindley; J. Joliffe; C. Hitch and M. Cooper; J. Hodges; R. Baldwin; and J. Jefferies, 1748. ESTC No. N40751. Grub Street ID 27619.
  • The Court and city register for the year 1749. Containing I. An almanack for the current year. II. New and correct lists of both Houses of Parliament. III. The court register. IV. Lists of the army and navy. The tenth edition, all corrected to the present time.. London: Printed for and sold by J. Barnes, late Amey's, in the Court of Requests, and at Charing-Cross; J. Brindley in New-Bond-street; J. Jolliffe in St. James's-street; C. Hitch and M. Cooper in Pater-noster-Row; John and James Rivington in St. Paul's Church-Yard; J. Hodges facing St. Magnus's Church, London-Bridge; R. Baldwin against Stationers-Hall; and J. Jefferies in Ludgate-street, [1749]. ESTC No. T34305. Grub Street ID 264625.