Publications of William Godbid

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).

Printed by William Godbid

  • Samways, Peter. The wise and faithful steward. Or, A narration of the exemplary death of Mr. Beniamin Rhodes, steward to the right honourable Thomas Earl of Elgin, &c. Briefly touch'd in a funeral sermon, and since enlarged. Together with some remarkable passages concerning Mrs Anne Rhodes his wife, who dying few houres after him, was buried together in the same grave with him in Malden Church in Bedfordshire, Aug. 4. 1657. London: printed by VVilliam Godbid, 1657. ESTC No. R219892. Grub Street ID 94363.
  • Bancroft, Thomas. The heroical lover, or, Antheon & Fidelta a poem / written by Thomas Bancroft. London: Printed by W[illiam] G[odbid], and are to be sold by Isaac Pridmore .., 1658. ESTC No. R20587. Grub Street ID 82487.
  • Cokain, Aston. Small poems of divers sorts written by Sir Aston Cokain. London: printed by Wil. Godbid, 1658. ESTC No. R25310. Grub Street ID 109012.
  • Five orthodox sermons preached before the Right Honourable the Lord Maior, sheriffs, and aldermen of London, April. 1641. First by Dr. Soames Vicar of Stayns, &c. on Good Friday at St. Pauls Church. Second by Dr. T. Morrow B. of Durham, on Easter Monday at St. Marys Spitle. Third by Dr. Christ. Potter B. of Carlile, on Easter Tuesday at St. Marys Spitle. Fourth by Dr. Westfield B. of Bristol, on Easter Wednesday at St. Marys Spitle. Fifth by Mr. W. Price minister of Covent Garden, on Palme Sunday following, in St. Pauls Church. The texts of which sermons are set down in the following page. London: printed by W[illiam]. Godbid, and are to be sold by several stationers, 1659. ESTC No. R177090. Grub Street ID 69337.
  • The kingdomes intelligencer. Faithfully communicating the affairs of these three nations. As also, the most remarkable transactions both civil and military, of all other nations beyond the seas. More especially, for England, Scotland, and Ireland. London [England]: printed by W[illiam]. G[odbid]. over against the Anchor in Little Brittain, 1660. ESTC No. P2939. Grub Street ID 56395.
  • Durel, John. Sermon Prononcé en l'eglise francoise, qui a ses exercices ordinaires en la Chappell de la Savoye, la premiere fois que le service de Dieu y a est'e celebr'e selon la liturgie de l'eglise anglicane, par Iean Durel ministre du Saint Evangile. A Londres: par Guillaume Godbid, et se vendent chez Iean Martin, Iaques Alestry, & Th. Dicas, au Cimetiere de S. Paul, `a l'enseigne de la Cloche, M. DC. LXI. [1661]. ESTC No. R229092. Grub Street ID 101690.
  • Scotland. Privy Council.. A proclamation for restoring the Church of Scotland to its ancient government by bishops: at Edinburgh the sixth day of September, one thousand six hundred and sixty one years. London]: Printed at Edinburgh, and re-printed at London by VV. G[odbid] for Richard Thrale at the Crosse Keys entring into St. Pauls church-yard, [1661. ESTC No. R225540. Grub Street ID 98701.
  • Somner, William. The most accurate history of the ancient city, and famous cathedral of Canterbury. Being an exact description of all the rarities in that city, suburbs, and cathedral: together, with the lives of all the arch-bishops of that See; illustrated with divers maps and figures. Published by Will. Somner. London: printed by VVilliam Godbid for Richard Thrale, at the Crosse-Keyes at Paul's gate, entring into Cheap-side, 1661. ESTC No. R221607. Grub Street ID 95736.
  • Essay des merveilles de Dieu, en l'harmonie des temps qui ont precedé les jours de Christ. Et comme ils se rencontrent en luy sa genealogie, et autres mysteres preparatoires a son premier advenement. Par Jean D'Espagne ministre du St Evangile. A Londres: imprimé par Guill. Godbid: pour H. Herringman, a l'Anchre, dans la petite Bourse, 1662. ESTC No. R31442. Grub Street ID 114238.
  • Falkland, Henry Cary. The mariage night. Written by the Lord Viscount Favvlkland. London: printed by W. G[odbid] for R. Crofts at the Crown in Chancery-Lane under Sergeants-Inne, 1664. ESTC No. R14852. Grub Street ID 62830.
  • Alsted, Johann Heinrich. Templum musicum: or The musical synopsis, of the learned and famous Johannes - Henricus - Alstedius, being a compendium of the rudiments both of the mathematical and practical part of musick: of which subject not any book is extant in our English tongue. Faithfully translated out of Latin by John Birchensha. philomath. Imprimatur, Feb. 5. 1663. Roger L'Estrange. London: printed by Will. Godbid for Peter Dring at the Sun in the Poultrey next dore to the Rose-Tavern, 1664. ESTC No. R1493. Grub Street ID 62904.
  • Seneca, Lucius Annaeus. The fourscore and eleventh epistle of Lucius Annaeus Seneca the philosopher. Written upon occasion of the sudden burning of Lions in France. Translated out of the original into English verse. London: printed by William Godbid, 1666. ESTC No. R10480. Grub Street ID 58849.
  • Hascard, Gregory. Gladius justitiæ: a sermon preached at the assizes held at Lincoln, March 9. 1667/8 William Welby, esq; being Sheriff of the County. By G.H. M.A. London: printed by William Godbid; for Nathaniel Brook at the Angel in Gresham Colledge, 1668. ESTC No. R9759. Grub Street ID 129805.
  • Stereometrical propositions: variously applicable; but particularly intended for gageing. By Robert Anderson. London: printed by William Godbid for Joshuah Conniers at the sign of the Black Raven in Duck-lane, 1668. ESTC No. R10482. Grub Street ID 58851.
  • Browne, Thomas, of London. The accurate-accomptant: or, London-merchant: containing an analysis for instructions and directions for a methodical keeping merchants accompts. By way of debitor and creditor; directing to the journal, where to find examples to the several heads in the analysis. Also, journal and leager. And at the end of the leager, a ballance; and from the said ballance is drawn up and entred another inventory to be brought into the next accompt hereby promised. By Thomas Browne accomptant. Composed for the use and benefit of the poor Blew-coat children educated in Christ's-Hospital, and published for the instruction of merchants, apprentices, and all others that desire to learn the exact method of keeping merchants accompts. London: printed by Will. Godbid, and are to be sold at the Writing-School in Christ's-Hospital, and by Nathaniel Brooke stationer at the Angel now in Gresham-Colledge, or in Cornhil, 1669. ESTC No. R173189. Grub Street ID 66844.
  • Philipot, Thomas. Antiquitas theologica & gentilis. Or, Two discourses: the first, concerning the original of churches, and their direct or collateral endowments. The second, touching the religion of the gentiles, their temples, priests, sacrifices, and other ancient rituals. A work necessary for divines, lawyers, antiquaries, historians, and poets. By Thomas Philipot, M.A. and formerly of Clare-Hall in Cambridge. London: printed by W[illiam]. G[odbid] and sold by R. Needham, at the Bell in little S. Bartholomews, 1670. ESTC No. R894. Grub Street ID 129068.
  • Smith, William. The unjust mans doom: as examined by the several kinds of Christian justice, and their obligation. With a particular representation of the injustice & danger of partial conformity. By William Smyth, D.D. London: printed by W. Godbid for Walter Kettilby at the Bishops Head in Duck-Lane, 1670. ESTC No. R10096. Grub Street ID 58493.
  • Norwood, Richard. The seamans practice, containing a fumdamental [sic] problem in navigation, experimentally verified; namely, touching the compass of the earth and sea, and the quantity of a degree in our English measures. Also, an exact method or form of keeping a reckoning at sea in an kind of manner of sailing. With certain tables and other rules useful in navigation; as also in the plotting and surveying of places. The latitude of the principal places in England. The finding of currents at sea, and what allowance is to be given in respect of them. The ninth edition. By Richard Norvvood, Reader of the mathematicks. London: printed by W[illiam] Godbid, for Benjamin Hurlock, and are to be sold at his shop on London Bridge, near Thames-Street, 1670. ESTC No. R181093. Grub Street ID 71861.
  • Starling, Samuel. An answer to the seditious and scandalous pamphlet, entituled, The tryal of W. Penn and W. Mead, at the sessions held at the Old Baily, London, the 1, 3, 4, 5, of Sept. 1670. Contained in four sections. Sect. I. The design of the libellous pamphlet discovered. II. The scandals against the then Lord Mayor, Sir Thomas Bludworth, and Sir John Hovel recorder, answered. III. The justice and honour of that court vindicated, by a true and impartial relation of that whole tryal. IV. The fining [sic] of that jury that gave two contrary verdicts justified, to prevent a failer of justice in London. Written by S.S. a friend to justice, and courts of justice. London: printed by W[illiam]. G[odbid]., 1671. ESTC No. R1083. Grub Street ID 59170.
  • Salmon, William. Synopsis medicinæ, or A compendium of astrological, Galenical, & chymical physick. Philosophically deduced from the principles of Hermes and Hippocrates. In three books. The first, laying down signs and rules how the disease may be known. The second, how to judge whether it be curable or not, or may end in life or death. The third, shewing the way of curing, according to the precepts of Galen and Paracelsus. All generally and specially performed; first astrally, from the decumbiture and radix: secondly physically, from the body of the sick, and symptoms thence arising. Fitted universally to the whole art of healing. By William Salmon. Philomathès Professor of Physick. London: printed by W. Godbid, for Richard Jones bookseller at the Golden Lion in Little Britain, near the Lame Hospital Gate, 1671. ESTC No. R4806. Grub Street ID 125269.
  • Aspley, John. Speculum nauticum. A looking-glass for sea-men. Wherein they may behold, how by a small instrument, called the plain-scale, all nautical questions, and astronomical propositions, are very easily and demonstratively performed. First set forth by John Aspley, student in physick, and practitioner of the mathematicks in London. The eighth edition. Whereunto are added many new propositions in navigation and astronomy; and also a third book, shewing a new way of dialling. With an appendix containing the use of all instruments that are used at sea. By H.P. and W.L. London: printed by W[illiam]. Godbid for Benjamin Hurlock, and are to be sold at his shop over against St Magnus church, near London Bridge, 1671. ESTC No. R172584. Grub Street ID 66415.
  • Boyle, Robert. Essays of the strange subtilty great efficacy determinate nature of effluviums. To which are annext new experiments to make fire and flame ponderable: together with a discovery of the perviousness of glass. By the Honorable Robert Boyle, Fellow of the Royal Society. London: printed by W[illiam] G[odbid] for M. Pitt, near the little north door of St Paul's Church, 1673. ESTC No. R15421. Grub Street ID 63363.
  • W., E.. Spadacrene Dunelmensis: or a short treatise of an ancient medicinal fountain or vitrioline spaw near the city of Durham. With the constituent principle, virtues and use thereof. By E.W. Doctor of Physick. London: printed by W[illiam]. G[odbid], and are to be sold by William Shrowsbury, at the Bible in Duck-lane, 1675. ESTC No. R186631. Grub Street ID 75216.
  • Lamy, Bernard. The art of speaking: written in French by Messieurs du Port Royal: in pursuance of a former treatise, intituled, The art of thinking. Rendred into English. London: printed by W. Godbid, and are to be sold by M. Pitt, at the Angel against the little north door of St. Paul's Church, 1676. ESTC No. R1142. Grub Street ID 59708.
  • Morel, Claude. A sermon at the funeral of the high & mighty Prince, Henry de La Tour d'Auvergne, Vicount of Turenne, Mareschal General of France; Colonel General of the light horse, and Governour of the upper and lower Limosin. Preach'd December 15, 1675. By Claude Francis, MinistrierDT Englished out of French. London: printed by W. G.[i.e. Godbid]. and are to be sold by Moses Pitt at the sign of the Angel in S. Paul's Church-Yard, 1677. ESTC No. R16802. Grub Street ID 64615.
  • Evelyn, John. Fumifugium: or, the inconvenience of the aer, and smoake of London dissipated. Together with some remedies humbly proposed by J. E. Esq; to his sacred Majestie, and to the Parliament now assembled. Published by His Majesties command. London: printed by W. Godbid, for Gabriel Bedel, and Thomas Collins; and are to be sold at their shop at the Middle Temple Gate, neer Temple Bar. M.DC.LXI. Re-Printed for B. White, at Horace's Head, in Fleet-Street, MDCCLXXII. [1772]. ESTC No. T96652. Grub Street ID 316112.

Printed for William Godbid

  • The pedegree and descent of His Excellency, General George Monck. Setting forth how he is descended from King Edvvard the Third, by a branch and slip of the white rose, the House of York. And likewise, his extraction from Richard King of the Romans. With the state, title and descents of the houses of York and Lancaster in their several branches. London: printed for W. Godbid, over against the Blew Anchor in Little Britain, 1659 [i.e. 1660]. ESTC No. R203171. Grub Street ID 80306.