Publications of Bell &

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.

See also "The Meaning of the Imprint."

Printed for Bell &

  • Russell, James. A practical essay on a certain disease of the bones, termed necrosis. Illustrated with six plates. By James Russell, F. R. S. Edin. Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and one of the Surgeons to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Edinburgh: printed by Neill and Co. for Bell & Bradfute, Edinburgh: and G. G. & J. Robinson, London, MDCCXCIV. [1794]. ESTC No. N12416. Grub Street ID 2418.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Bell &

  • Elwall, Edward. The triumph of truth; being an account of the trial of Mr Elwall before Judge Denton, for publishing a book in defence of the unity of God; at Stafford assizes; in the year 1726. Dundee: printed and sold by Bell & Bradfute; Brown, Dundee; and Buchanan, Montrose, 1792. ESTC No. N47894. Grub Street ID 32536.