Publications of Nathanael Butter

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).

Printed by Nathanael Butter

  • Hall, Joseph. A short ansvver to the tedious Vindication of Smectymnuus. By the author of the humble remonstrance. London: printed by Nathaniel Butter in Pauls Church-yard at the pyde-Bull neare St. Austins gate, 1641. ESTC No. R4914. Grub Street ID 125406.
  • Crown, S. An anniversary upon the xxxth. of January. 1648. Being a poem dedicated to the Queen of Great Brittain, France & Ireland. And may serve as a remembrance to all posterity, of the horrid murther of Charles the First, the incomparable King of Great Brittain. Printed at London: by Nathaniel Butter, 1650. But not permitted to be publick till now, 1660. ESTC No. R171630. Grub Street ID 65795.

Printed for Nathanael Butter

  • Numb. 6, From Norimberg. Ordinary avisoes from severall places. Basill the 16. 26. of November. [[London]: Printed at London [by Richard Oulton?] for Nathaneel Butter and Nicholas Bourne, Ianuary 1. 1639]. ESTC No. S94382. Grub Street ID 152657.
  • Numb. 86 The curranto this weeke from Holland. [London: Printed [by T. Harper?] for Nath. Butter and Nic. Bourne, Iune 21, 1639 with permission. ESTC No. S116934. Grub Street ID 136620.
  • Two most vnnaturall and bloodie murthers: the one by Maister Cauerley, a Yorkeshire gentleman, practised vpon his wife, and committed vppon his two children, the three and twentie of Aprill 1605. The other, by Mistris Browne, and her seruant Peter, vpon her husband, who were executed in Lent last past at Bury in Suffolke. 1605. Printed at London: By V. S[immes] for Nathanael Butter dwelling in Paules churchyard neere Saint Austens gate, 1605. ESTC No. S120705. Grub Street ID 140334.
  • Smith, Thomas. Sir Thomas Smithes voiage and entertainment in Rushia. With the tragicall ends of two emperors, and one empresse, within one moneth during his being there: and the miraculous preseruation of the now raigning emperor, esteemed dead for 18. yeares. Printed at London: [By W. White and W. Jaggard] for Nathanyell Butter, 1605. ESTC No. S111002. Grub Street ID 130941.
  • Nicholl, emigrant to Guiana. John. An houre glasse of Indian newes. Or A true and tragicall discourse, shewing the most lamentable miseries, and distressed calamities indured by 67 Englishmen, which were sent for a supply to the planting in Guiana in the yeare. 1605. VVho not finding the saide place, were for want of victuall, left a shore in Saint Lucia, an island of caniballs, or men-eaters in the West-Indyes, vnder the conduct of Captain Sen-Iohns, of all which said number, onely a 11. are supposed to be still liuing, whereof 4. are lately returnd into England. Written by Iohn Nicholl, one of th aforesaid company. London: Printed [by Edward Allde] for Nathaniell Butter, and are to bee solde at his shop neere Saint Austens Gate, 1607. ESTC No. S110152. Grub Street ID 130269.
  • Helwys, Gervase. The lieutenant of the Tower his speech and repentance, at the time of his death, who was executed vpon Tower-hill, on the 20. day of Nouember. 1615. Together with a meditation and vow of his that hee made not long before he dyed. [London]: Printed by G. Eld for Na: Butter, and are to be sold at his shop neere Saint Austines gate, [1615]. ESTC No. S114113. Grub Street ID 133836.
  • Ford, John. A line of life. Pointing at the immortalitie of a vertuous name. [London]: Printed by W[illiam] S[tansby] for N[athaniel] Butter, and are to be sold at his shop, neere Saint Austens gate, 1620. ESTC No. S114264. Grub Street ID 133982.
  • A true relation of a wonderfull sea fight betweene two great and well appointed Spanish ships or men of warre. And a small and not very well prouided English ship, who was constrained to enter into this conflict at the iland of Dominico in her passage to Virginia, as she was determined to take in fresh water there. London: Printed [by Edward Allde] for N. B[utter], 1621. ESTC No. S110896. Grub Street ID 130853.
  • Corante, or weekely newes from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Bohemia, France and the Low Countreys. Printed at London: For N. B[utter] according to the Dutch copy, the 30. of Septemb. 1621. ESTC No. S119544. Grub Street ID 139183.
  • More nevves from the Palatinate, the second time imprinted Iune the 5. Containing the true copies of certaine letters of great import written from Manheim, relating most fully the last pursuit of the emperours forces vnder Leopold: with their vtter defeat. As also what befell the duke of Brunswicke in his passage to ioyne with the king of Bohemia. Together with the true and present estate of count Mansfield, the marquis of Baden, the generall vere, Don Cordova, de Tilly, and their seuerall armies. With the preparations of Bethlem Gabor for the duke of Bavaria, and count Mansfields marching with his armie toward Dermstadt. And many other considerable things concerning the affaires of Germanie and the low countries. London: Printed by W. Iones for N. Butter and W. Sheffard, and are to be sold at S. Austins gate, and at the entring in of Popes-head Ally out of Lombard street, 1622. ESTC No. S111877. Grub Street ID 131643.
  • April 7. Numb. 20[.]. Extraordinary newes containing many admirable, strange, joyfull and pitifull accidents and passages: as likewise, The speeches made at the generall meeting of Austria: besides, The imperiall propositions which are aswell in this meeting at Vienn[a] propounded, as in the Land-day of Silisia, which is kept at Breslaw. Moreouer, The abruption of the treaty of peace which was betwixt the Emperor and Bethlem Gabor appointed, and the warlike preparations on each side. The inuasion made on the dominion of the Duke of Brunswicke, and his resolution to defend his subiects, as appeareth by a copy of his owne letter. The commission granted by the Emperor, to settle the Prince Lodowik Philips Duke of Simmeren, being brother of the King of Bohemia into his due inheritance. ... Besides diuers other things of moment which happened lately in the Palatinate, Hungaria, Bohemia, Morauia, in the Low Countries, and other parts of Christendome. [London, England]: Printed at London, [by Edward Allde] for Nathaniel Butter. 1624. ESTC No. S123603. Grub Street ID 143080.
  • Hall, Joseph. The olde religion: a treatise, wherin is laid downe the true state of the difference betwixt the reformed, and Romane Church; and the blame of this schisme is cast vpon the true authors. Seruing for the vindication of our innocence, for the setling of wauering minds for preseruatiue against Popish insinuations. By Ios. Hall, B. of Exon. London: Printed by W[illiam] S[tansby] for Nathaniell Butter and Richard Hawkings, 1628. ESTC No. S117610. Grub Street ID 137280.
  • The devotions and formes of prayer, daily vsed in the King of Svvedens army: being the first part of our intended booke concerning the Svvedish discipline; religious, civill, and military. The reason for our publishing this by it selfe, wee desire the reader to looke for in the Epistle. London: printed [by J. Dawson] for Nathanaell Butter and Nicholas Bourne, 1632. ESTC No. S126259. Grub Street ID 145429.
  • Tvvo famous sea-fights. Lately made, betwixt the fleetes of the King of Spaine, and the fleetes of the Hollanders. The one, in the West-Indyes: the other, the eight of this present moneth of February, betwixt Callis and Gravelin. In the former, the Hollander suffered. In the latter the Spaniard lost. Two relations not vnfit for these times to animate noble spirits to attempt and accomplish brave actions. London: Printed [by Bernard Alsop and Thomas Fawcet] for Nath: Butter and Nic: Bourne, with priviledge, 1639. ESTC No. S117010. Grub Street ID 136689.
  • Century 2. Numb. 88. 249 The curranto for this weeke, from Holland. [London: printed [Richard Oulton?] for Nathaneel Butter, February 11. 1640.]. ESTC No. S94420. Grub Street ID 152691.
  • Hall, Joseph. Episcopacie by divine right. Asserted, by Jos. Hall, B. of Exon. London: printed by R. B. for Nathanael Butter, at the Pide-Bull by S. Augustine's Gate, 1640. ESTC No. R17500. Grub Street ID 68004.
  • [Cent. 3.] Numb. 49. The [co]ntinuation [of] the forraine avisoes for two weekes last past, containing many very remarkable passages of Germanie, France, Spaine, Italy, Sweden, the Low-Countries, and other parts of the world. Bannier demaunded quarter for three moneths in Saxonie, which puts the countrey to great extremity. The treaty about the Prince Palatine and Duke of Bavaria is deferred till March. The Swedish Generall Major Pfull doth great harme to the imperialists and Saxons in Saxonie. The dunkerkes haue lately taken divers French and Dutch vessels richly laden. Generall Bannier is suddenly rised, and by all appearance will visit the Emperour at Ratisbone very shortly. Banniers letter and accompt of all his winter actions. The rebellion and revolt of Catalonia, and Portugall continueth, and the discontent of Naples daily increaseth. [London: printed for N. Butter,] January, 23. 1640. at St. Austins gate, [1640 [i.e. 1641]]. ESTC No. S94444. Grub Street ID 152712.
  • The passages in Parliament, from ... London [England]: printed for Nath. Butter, at St. Austins Gate in Pauls Church yard, at the signe of the Pyde Bull, 1641. ESTC No. P1660. Grub Street ID 55446.
  • Hall, Joseph. A defence of the Humble remon[str]ance, against the frivolous and false exce[pt]ions of Smectymnuus. Whe[r]ein the righ[t] of leitur[gie] and episcopacie is clearly [vindicated] from the vaine cavils, and c[hallenges] of the answerers. By the author [of the] said Humble remonstrance. Seconded (in way of appenda[nce)] with the judgement of the famous divine of the Palatinate, D. Abrahamus Scultetus, late professor of divinitie in the Universitie of Heidelberg: concerning the divine right of episcopacie, and the no-right of lay-eldership. Faithfully translated out of his Latine. London: printed for Nathaniel Butter in Pauls Church-yard at the pyde-Bull neare St. Austins gate, 1641. ESTC No. R188180. Grub Street ID 76185.
  • Williams, John. An abstract of those ansvvers vvhich were given in the assembly of the Lords in the High Court of Parliament, unto the nine reasons, sent up from the House of Commons, against the voting of bishops in Parliament. [London]: Printed for N. Butter, 1641. ESTC No. R1464. Grub Street ID 62648.
  • Cent. 4. Num. 24. Received this weeke extraordinary newes form Germany, containing (amongst other things) the great and admirable victory of the Swedes, obtained against the imperialists before Wolffenbuttle; the like battell hath not beene fought these many years. With th names of the principall commanders, and men of note, slaine and taken prisoners are set down 4000. slaine in the place, 3000. taken prisoners, besides how many more are like to be slaine and taken prisoners in the prosecution of the victory, so many standards, so many peeces of ordinance, and all their bagage taken. Printed at London: [by T. Harper] for Nathaniel Butter, at Saint Austins Gate, Iuly 10. 1641. ESTC No. R234939. Grub Street ID 106169.
  • Pickering, Robert. VVarranted tydings from Jreland. Written by Master Robert Pickering, secretary unto the Right Worshipfull, Sir Simon Harcourt, Sergeant-Major of all the horse troops there arrived. From Corke, January 16, 1461 [sic]. London: printed for Nathanaell Butter, 1641. [i.e. 1642]. ESTC No. R21073. Grub Street ID 86825.
  • Lechford, Thomas. Plain dealing: or, Nevves from New-England. A short view of New-Englands present government, both ecclesiasticall and civil, compared with the anciently-received and established government of England, in some materiall points; fit for the gravest consideration in these times. By Thomas Lechford of Clements Inne, in the county of Middlesex, Gent. London: printed by W[illiam]. E[llis]. and I[ohn]. G[rismond]. for Nath: Butter, at the signe of the pyde Bull neere S. Austins gate, 1642. ESTC No. R12846. Grub Street ID 60997.
  • A short and true relation, of all what hath hapned in Portugall unto the 23. March 1641. since the coronation of the illustrious King Iohn the fourth, Duke of Braganza, solemnized the 15. of December, 1641. Together with the the reason that hath mooved the Portugals to cast off the King of Spaine, and to free themselves by force of armes from his power. London: printed for Na. Butter, 1641 [i.e. 1642]. ESTC No. R225067. Grub Street ID 98417.
  • Hall, Joseph. The remedy of discontentment. Or, A treatise of contentation in whatsoever condition: fit for these sad and troubled times. By Jos. Hall D.D. and B. of N. London: printed by M. F[lesher]. for Nat. Butter, 1645. ESTC No. R202350. Grub Street ID 79596.
  • Hall, Joseph. Three tractates, the devout soul. The free prisoner. The remedie of discontentment. To which may be added the Peace-maker. By Jos. Hall, D.D. and B.N. London: printed by M. Flesher, for Nat: Butter, M.DC.XLVI. [1646]. ESTC No. R14217. Grub Street ID 62263.
  • Hall, Joseph. Satans fiery darts quenched, or, Temptations repelled. In three decades. For the help, comfort, and preservation of weak Christians in these dangerous times of errour and seduction. By I.H. D.D. B.N. London: printed by M[iles]. F[lesher]. for N: Butter. And are to be sold in Pauls Church-yard at the Bishops-head and Golden-Lyon, and in Corn-hill by N. Brooks, 1647. ESTC No. R34452. Grub Street ID 116976.

Author

  • Butter, Nathanael. A letter with a narrative, written to the right Hon:ble Thomas Allen Lord Major of London, &e. [sic] concerning a strange sight that appeared over this city of London, in the yeare 1642. when the King was driven from his Parliament, dated as followeth. London: printed for Nath. Butter, residing in Cursitors Alley, 1659. ESTC No. R226406. Grub Street ID 99436.