Publications of Thomas Howkins

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), or an obfuscation of the actual printer's name (e.g., "London: printed, and sold by x"):

  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 (see, e.g. Mary Cooper). 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 Thomas Howkins

  • Care, Henry. The tutor to true English: or, Brief and plain directions, whereby all that can read and write, may attain to orthography, (or the exact writing of English) as readily as if bred scholars. Very much conducing likewise to the due sounding and perfect reading all sorts of words used in the English tongue. With an introduction to arithmetic: more easie than any yet extant. And several other observations of general use; especially for the youth of either sex, and forreigners. By Henry Care. London: printed by George Larkin, and are to be sold by Thomas Howkins in George Yard in Lumbard street, 1690. ESTC No. R170790. Grub Street ID 65340.

Printed for Thomas Howkins

  • Ellwood, Thomas. A discourse concerning riots. Occasioned by some of the people called Quakers, being imprisoned and indicted for a riot, for only being at a peaceable meeting to worship God. Written by one of that people, Thomas Ellwood. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-Yard in Lombard-Street, MDCLXXXIII. [1683]. ESTC No. R39419. Grub Street ID 121312.
  • Heywood, John. A friendly perswation and Christian exhortation to all, who profess the guidance of the spirit of Christ and Christianity, to keep out of false-reports, whisperings, and backbitings which disturbs the peace of the Church, and are the occasion of offences. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-yard in Lumbardstreet, 1684. ESTC No. R177982. Grub Street ID 69897.
  • Whiting, John. An abstract of the lives, precepts, and sayings, of the ancient fathers, which immediately succeeded Christ, and his apostles. Faithfully collected, and published; as well for instruction and admonishion to all people: as for the encouragement of all such as suffer for the testimony of truth, and a good conscience. By a fellow sufferer with them, J.W. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-yard, in Lombard-Street, 1684. ESTC No. R222575. Grub Street ID 96539.
  • Fox, George. A word of admonition to such as wander from the anointings and teachings, and from the Father and the Son. As also concerning the Supper of the Lord, before he was crucified; and his marriage supper after he was risen and ascended. And who are they that declare the generation of Christ distinct from the generation of natural Adam; and the reason why all became not the sons and daughters of God that are called Christians; with many other precious instructions. Shewing also how the Jews wandered from the commands of God, and how the Jews and Christians are wandered from the same Holy Ghost, and the communion as they were in that gave forth the Scripture. Here is likewise Gods promises to Cain after he had disobeyed, if he did well he should be accepted. Lastly, here is the true Christians righteousness, which must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, or there is no entring God's Kingdom. By George Fox. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-yard in Lombard-street, 1684. ESTC No. R28018. Grub Street ID 111133.
  • Killigrew, William. The artless midnight thoughts of a gentleman at court: who for many years built on sand, which every blast of cross fortune has defaced; but now he has laid new foundations on the rock of his salvation, which no storms can shake; and will out-last the conflagration of th world, when time shall melt into eternity. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-Yard, in Lombard Street, 1684. ESTC No. R227259. Grub Street ID 100165.
  • Killigrew, William. The artless midnight thoughts of a gentleman at court: who for many years built on sand, which every blast of cross fortune has defaced; but now he has laid new foundations on the rock of his salvation, which no storms can shake; and will out-last the conflagration of th world, when time shall melt into eternity. The second edition with additions.. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George Yard, in Lombard Street, 1684. ESTC No. R179237. Grub Street ID 70740.
  • Fox, George. Concerning such as have forbidden preaching or teaching in the name of Jesus, and such as are ashamed to confess Him before men, and call not on the name of the Lord, &c. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-Yard in Lumbard-street, [1684]. ESTC No. R220228. Grub Street ID 94643.
  • Mandey, Venterus. Mellificium mensionis: or, The marrow of measuring, wherein a new and ready way is shewn how to measure glazing, painting, plastering, masonry, joyners, carpenters and brick-layers works. As also the measuring of land, and all other snperficies [sic] and solids, by vulgar arithmetick, without reducing the integers into the least denomination; giving the content of any superficies or solid, consisting of feet, inches, and parts of inches, in a fourth part of the time and labour required by the usal [sic] way in vulgar arithmetick. Together with some choice principle and problems of geometry conducing thereto. The whole treatise being comprized in six books, and illustrated with copper cuts. An account whereof is given in the epistle to the reader; the like not heretofore published. The second edition corrected. By Venterus Mandey. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-yard in Lumbard-street, 1685. ESTC No. R203031. Grub Street ID 80185.
  • Holwell, John. Trigonometry made easie fitted to the meanest capacity, it being the foundation of astronomy, navigation, dyalling, surveying, geography, perspective, and gunnery &c. /by John Holwell. London: Printed for Tho. Hawkins, 1685. ESTC No. R26067. Grub Street ID 109425.
  • Mather, W. The young man's companion, or a very useful manuel for youth. Containing plain and full directions for spelling, and reading English and Latine, and the Englishing the Latin Bible without a teacher; with easie rules for writing and arithmetick. Likewise the plotting and measuring of land, globes, steeples, ... Of surveying astronomy, dialing, and glazing; also some secrets in navigation, geography, and colouring of globes; with a map of England; and a brief history of the King thereof, remarques on the late great frost, and other prodigious accidents. ... An account of time, days and months, under the various denominations: hard words in law and chyrurgery explained. With all the fairs, highways and roads in England, and, many more useful things; together with an alphabetical table for the ready finding any matter herein contained. The second edition, with very large additions. By William Mather. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-Yard in Lombard-street, 1685. ESTC No. R215542. Grub Street ID 90557.
  • Killigrew, William. The artless midnight thoughts of a gentleman at court: who for many years built on sand, which every blast of cross fortune has defaced; but now he has laid new foundations on the rock of his salvation, which no storms can shake; and will out-last the conflagration of th world, when time shall melt into eternity. The second edition with additions.. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in George-Yard, in Lombard Street, 1684. [i.e. 1688]. ESTC No. R11693. Grub Street ID 59949.
  • Osborn, T., schoolmaster. A rational way of teaching. Whereby children, and others, may be instructed in true reading, pronouncing and writing of the English tongue; in an easier and speedier method, than any hitherto publish'd. Containing, I. Rules for spelling, reading, and pronouncing of all English words. II. Words of all sorts from one to seven syllables, both whole and also divided. III. An explanation of the true life and meaning of all points and stops, both in reading and writing. IV. A transcription of some chapters out of the first book of chronicles, both in whole words, and also divided into syllables; for the easier learning to read hard proper names. V. Directions how to spell and write true English together with two useful tables. ... Also some useful presidents. By T. Osborn, school-master. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-yard, in Lombard-street, 1688. ESTC No. R181055. Grub Street ID 71837.
  • Ratcliffe, Thomas. A new art of short and swift writing, without characters. Invented some years since by Mr. Ratcliff of Plimouth; but not published in his lifetime: by which rules a common hand will make such expedition, that sermons, speeches, or tryals may be taken with delight. Licens'd, Nov. 17. 1687. R. Midgley. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-yard in Lombard-street, 1688. ESTC No. R219662. Grub Street ID 94162.
  • Gloria Britannica; or, the boast of the Brittish seas. Containing a true and full account of the Royal Navy of England. Shewing, where each ship was built, by whom, and when; its length, breadth, depth, draught of water, tuns, the number of men and guns, both in peace and war, at home and abroad. Together, with every man's pay, from a captain to a cabin-boy; truly calculated and cast up, for a day, a week, a month, and a kalendar year, or 12 months and 1 day. Carefully collected and digested by a true lover of the seamen, and of long experience in the practices of the Navy and Admiralty. Licensed, April the 9th. 1689. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-Yard in Lombard-street, 1689. ESTC No. R2561. Grub Street ID 109104.
  • Gloria Britannica; or, the boast of the Brittish seas. Containing a true and full account of the Royal Navy of England, shewing where each ship was built, by whom, and when; its length, breadth, depth, draught of water, tuns, the number of men and guns, both in peace and war, at home and abroad. Together, with every man's pay, from a captain to a cabin-boy; truly calculated and cast up, for a day, a week, a month, and a kalendar year, or 13 months and 1 day. Carefully collected and digested by a true lover of the seamen, and of long experience in the practices of the Navy and Admiralty. Licensed, April the 9th. 1689. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-Yard in Lombard-street, 1689. ESTC No. R231781. Grub Street ID 103740.
  • Ayres, Philip. Mythologia ethica: or, three centuries of Æsopian fables. In English prose. Done from Æsop, Phædrus, Camerarius, and all other eminent authors on this subject. Illustrated with moral, philosophical, and political precepts. Also with aphorisms and proverbs in several languages. And adorned with many curious sculptures, cut on copper plates. By Philip Ayres, Esq;. London: printed for Thomas Hawkins, in George-Yard, in Lombard-street, M DC LXXXIX. [1689]. ESTC No. R28929. Grub Street ID 111955.
  • A sermon preached . . . October 15, 1688. London For Thomas Howkins 1689. ESTC No. R181585. Grub Street ID 362640.
  • Culpeper, Nicholas. Physical receipts: or, The new English physician. Containing, admirable and approved remedies, for several of the most usual diseases. Fitted to the meanest capacity, by N. Culpepper, doctor of physick. Licensed, according to order. London: printed for Thomas Howkins, in the George-Yard, in bard-street, 1690. ESTC No. R22505. Grub Street ID 98403.
  • De Laune, Thomas. Angliae metropolis: or, The present state of London: with memorials comprehending a full and succinct account of the ancient and modern state thereof. Its original, government, rights, liberties, charters, trade, customs, priviledges, and other remarkables, &c. First writte by the late ingenious Tho. Delaune Gent. and continu'd to this present year by a careful hand. London: printed by G[eorge]. L[arkin]. for John Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey, and Thomas Hawkins in George Yard in Lumbard Street, MDCXC. [1690]. ESTC No. R13864. Grub Street ID 61929.
  • Politikov megav: the grand politician. London For T. Howkins 1690. ESTC No. R179209. Grub Street ID 362480.
  • An exact relation of several material actions and skirmishes that has happen'd between their majesties forces, and the Irish rebels, since the grand defeat given to Clifford, near the Mote of Grimage. Particularly, the defeating a party of the rebel army near Inche, killing and taking many prisoners, among whom was a famous captain of the Rapparees, who had lately barbarously murthered several persons. The defeating another party of Rapparees near one of our frontier garrisons; the taking of many prisoners, most of which being notorious rogues, were immediately hanged. The great confusions among the three grand parties of the Irish rebels, viz. Tyrconnel, who has set up for the French King; Sarsfield, who declares for the late King James; and the Lord ------- who is for submitting to their Majesties. Licensed, March 13. and entred according t order. London: printed for T[homas]. Hawkins, 1691. ESTC No. R176825. Grub Street ID 69192.
  • A list of the present arch-bishops and bishops in England and Wales. London: printed for T. Hawkins, in Cornhil, 1691. ESTC No. R179859. Grub Street ID 71098.
  • A faithful account of the present condition of Lymerick . . . with Tyrconnel's declaration. London For T. Hawkins 1691. ESTC No. R176927. Grub Street ID 424149.
  • The city mercury: published (gratis) every Monday for the promoting of trade. London: printed for Tho. Howkins in George-yard Lombard-Street, [1692?-1694?]. ESTC No. P1500. Grub Street ID 55298.
  • The child's recreation . London: printed by Will. Bonny, for Tho. Howkins, 1692. ESTC No. R171314. Grub Street ID 65600.
  • Salmon, William. Medicina practica: or, Practical physick. Shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies. As all sorts of aches and pains, apoplexies, agnes, bleedings, fluxes, gripings, wind, shortnes of breath, diseases of the breast and lungs, abortion, want of appetite, loss of the use of limbs, cholick, or belly-ach, apostems, thrushes, quinsies, deafness, bubo's cachexia, stone in the reins, and stone in the bladder: with the preparation of the Praecipolum, or the universal medicine of Paracelsus. To which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longaevus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley. All translated out of the best Latin editions into English; and carefully claused, or divided into chapters, and sections, for the more pleasant reading, and easier understanding of those authors. Together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers. The whole compl. London: printed for T. Howkins in George-Yard in Lombard-Street, J. Taylor at the Ship in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and J. Harris at the Harrow in the Poultrey, 1692. ESTC No. R2355. Grub Street ID 106591.
  • Great news from His Majesty's camp near Louvain in Flanders being a full and true account of the taking a party of the French king's Horse, among whom was the French king's general the Duke of Luxemburgh / in a letter from a gentleman in His Majesty's camp to his friend at London. London: Printed for T. Hawkins, 1693. ESTC No. R36559. Grub Street ID 118825.
  • Ratcliffe, Thomas. A new art of short and swift writing, without characters. Invented some years since by Mr. Ratcliff of Plimouth; but not published in his life-time. By which rules a common hand will make such expedition, that sermons, speeches, or tryals may be taken with delight, and plainly read, though twenty years after. The second edition, with large additions. And the effigies of King William and Queen Mary, on a copper-plate.. London: printed for Thomas Howkins in George-yard in Lombard-street, [1693]. ESTC No. R182369. Grub Street ID 72571.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Thomas Howkins

  • Cox, John. An epistle to all the Lords people, sent as a salutation of love and peace unto them in this trying day. John Cox your brother, and a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, in whose name, and by whose sufferings and death, and resurrection from the dead we have salvation and victory, . London: printed and sold by Thomas Howkins, 1685. ESTC No. R171575. Grub Street ID 65755.
  • Weyer, Matthias. The narrow path of divine truth described from living practice and experience of its three great steps, viz. Purgation, illumination & union according to the testimony of the holy scriptures; as also of Thomas a Kempis, the German divinity, Thauler, and such like. Or the sayings of Matthew Weyer reduced into order in three books by J. Spee. Unto which are subjoyned his practical epistles, done above 120 years since in the Dutch, and after the author's death, printed in the German language at Francfort 1579. And in Latin at Amsterdam 1658. and now in English. London]: printed: sold by Thomas Howkins in George-yard in Lumbard-Street Bookseller, [1692?. ESTC No. R186409. Grub Street ID 75103.
  • Young lady.. The secret revealed: or animal magnetism displayed. A letter from a young lady to the Rev. John Martin. The second edition, enlarged.. London]: Printed for and sold by T. Hawkins, Borough, [1790?. ESTC No. T120461. Grub Street ID 171501.