Publications of Sarah 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 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 for Sarah Howkins

  • Helmont, Franciscus Mercurius van. The spirit of diseases; or, Diseases from the spirit: laid open in some observations concerning man, and his diseases. Wherein is shewed how much the mind influenceth the body in causing and curing of diseases. The whole deduced from certain and infallible principles of natural reason and experience. By Franciscus Mercurius, Baron of Helmont. London: printed for Sarah Howkins in George-Yard, in Lombard-street, 1694. ESTC No. R9829. Grub Street ID 129877.
  • Helmont, Franciscus Mercurius van. Seder olam: or, The order, series, or succession of all the ages, periods, and times of the whole world is theologically, philosophically, and chronologically explicated and stated. Also the hypothesis of the pre-existency and revolution of humane souls. Together with the thousand years reign of Christ on the earth, probably evinced, and deliver'd in an historical enarration thereof, according to the Holy Scriptures. To which is also annexed, some explanatory questions of the book of the Revelations of the like import. And an appendix; containing some emendations and explanations of divers passages, in the two foregoing treatises, out of the author's original manuscripts and papers. Translated out of Latin by J. Clark, M.D., upon the leave of F.M. Baron of Helmont. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumbard-Street, 1694. ESTC No. R9283. Grub Street ID 129379.
  • Mather, W. An instrument from that little stone cut out of the mountain without hands, to help to break in pieces, that great image which Daniel mentions, Ch. 2. whose feet was part iron and part clay. Or, A few queries written to satisfie the chief preacher in the independent church in Bedford, who desired the author to write unto him, what proofs he had for a woman's speaking in the church. He being concerned that so many of his hearers should leave him to go to hear Margaretti Everard declare what God had done for her soul, the 17th day of June last at my dwelling in Bedford. Published for the information of all professors in religion, that are part strong and part weak (as the feet of the said image) ... That they may no longer (like the harden'd Jews) expect another grace or saviour, (that is) a restranining grace that shall force them out of their sins. Poor hearts! who has taught you, that God will except of forc'd love, when men doth not esteem such love each to other. By William Mather,. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-Yard in Lombard-street, 1694. ESTC No. R221849. Grub Street ID 95934.
  • Mather, W.. A novelty: or, a government of vvomen, distinct from men, erected amoungst some of the people, call'd Quakers. Detected in an epistle, occasionally written to a man-judge, upon a young man's refusing (for good conscience sake) to submit to their authority in marriage, seeing that relations and friends were already satisfied. To which is added, a lamentation for the fall of so many of that people. Published for no other end, but to deter all honest hearts of the said people, from erecting the like unscriptural government. Tho' this may not so far prevail with such women as has a secret command of their husbands purses; together with those preachers that reap profit by such a female government, as to consent to the disanulling the same. Written by William Mather, a dear lover of the said people, who has for several years been much troubled, that some of them should fall from there primitive institution, as to set up women's and men's meetings, as guides in government, ... . London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumbard-street, [1694?]. ESTC No. R221850. Grub Street ID 95936.
  • The harmless opinion of the revolution of humane souls; as a probable hypothesis, and very serviceable to clear many doubts, and answer many objections of atheists against the divine providence, and the Holy Scriptures. Modestly defended in a reply to a late treatise, signed by J.H. Printed at Oxford, and called by him, An answer to some queries, proposed by W.C. or a refutation of Helmont's pernicious error, &c. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumbard street, 1694. ESTC No. R221587. Grub Street ID 95716.
  • Helmont, Franciscus Mercurius van. Seder olam: or, The order, series, or succession of all the ages, periods, and times of the whole world is theologically, philosophically, and chronologically explicated and stated. Also the hypothesis of the pre-existency and revolution of humane souls: Together with the thousand years reign of Christ on the earth, probably evinced, and deliver'd in an historical enarration thereof, according to the Holy Scriptures. To which is also annexed, some explanatory questions of the book of the Revelations of the like import. And an appendix; containing some emendations and explanations of divers passages, in the two foregoing treatises, out of the author's original manuscripts and papers. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumbard-Street, 1694. ESTC No. R235335. Grub Street ID 106471.
  • Helmont, Franciscus Mercurius van. Seder olam: or, The order, series, or succession of all the ages, periods, and times of the whole world is theologically, philosophically, and chronologically explicated and stated. Also the hypothesis of the pre-existency and revolution, of humane souls. Together with the thousand years reign of Christ on the earth, probably evinced, and deliver'd in an historical enarration thereof, according to the Holy Scriptures. To which is also annexed, some explanatory questions of the Book of the Revelations of the like import. And an Appendis; containing some emendations and explanations of divers passages, in the two fore-going treaties, out of the author's original manuscripts and papers. Translated out of Latin by J. Clark, M. D. upon the leave of F. M. Baron of Helmont. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lumbard-street, 1694. ESTC No. R235336. Grub Street ID 106472.
  • C., G., Lover of all men. Envy and folly detected: by way of a reply , to a scandalous pamphlet, lately published by Robert Bridgeman (a grocer in London) intituled, Folly and envy detected, &c. Being a vindication of the true Christian Quakers. Also something to a paper signed by J. Vaughton, J. Field, Ch. Marshall, W. Bingly, and others, being in number 24. And pretended Quakers, lately published in the City Mercury, &c. To which is added, nineteen queries to R.B. and his 24 brethren, &c. By G.C. and E.N., lovers of all men. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, 1695. ESTC No. R1507. Grub Street ID 63034.
  • Mather, W. The young man's companion: or, arithmetick made easie. With plain directions for a young man, to attain to read, and write true English, and short hand, or characters. And also, very easie rules for measuring land, globes, steeples, ... both by arithmetick and Gunter's line: the use of the carpenter's plain rule, and several tables of measuring, for those that have not learned arithmetick. The use of Gunter's quadrant, dialling, colouring within and without doors; ... Choice experiments in physick and chyrurgery, making several sorts of wines, ... With choice presidents in the law, and advice upon them. Many good sayings of the learned, ... Together with many other useful things, to encourage youth to the love of virtue, to please God. With an alphabetical table, for the ready finding of any matter herein contained. Written in a plain stile, whereby an ordinary capacity may attain the same, without a tutor. The fourth edition, with very large additions. By William Mather. London: printed for Sarah Howkins, in George-yard, Lombardstreet, 1695. ESTC No. R180452. Grub Street ID 71487.