Publications of Charles King

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):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

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, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally 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 rather than a copyright holder. 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 Lectures 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.

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 Charles King

  • England's delivery, or the fanaticks discover'd. Being a full and true account of a most notorious plot against the Queen and Parliament, contriv'd by Daniel D'F--e, and carried on by the Presbyterians under the name of Mohocks; together with the apprehending and taking several of 'em, and their commitment to prison by the worshipful bench of justices, who sat yesterday at the back of St. Clement's Church. London: printed by Charles King, [1712]. ESTC No. N65555. Grub Street ID 47420.

Sold by Charles King

  • Kennett, White. The conduct of the Reverend Dr. White Kennet, Dean of Peterborough. from the year 1681, to the present time. Being a supplement to his Three letters to the Bishop of Carlisle, upon the subject of Bishop Merks. By an impartial hand. London: printed and sold by Charles King, 1717. ESTC No. T132815. Grub Street ID 181714.
  • The law of elections; being an abstract of all the statutes now in force relating to the election of members. To serve in the House of Commons. In three sections, Viz. The Duties, &c. of the Electors, the Elected, and the Officers Returning. [London]: In the Savoy: printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, (assigns of Edw. Sayer, Esq;) for J. Tonson in the Strand, and sold by D. Browne near Temple-Bar, B. Lintott in Fleetstreet, C. King in Westminster-Hall, and J. Brotherton in Cornhill, MDCCXXII. [1722]. ESTC No. T114133. Grub Street ID 165961.
  • Lowe, Solomon. Latin rudiments contrived by Solomon Lowe containing every thing in Lilye, except a few particulars, instead of which, several generals are here added, of much more importance. For the use of Prince William. London: Sold by J. Wyat, in Paul’s Church-Yard; S. Ballard, in Little Britain. J. Noon, in Cheapside, T. Woodward, in Fleet-street; J. Groenwege & N. Prevost, in the Strand; J. Jackson, in Pall-mall, C. King, in Westminster hall, MDCCXXVII. [1727]. ESTC No. T176684. Grub Street ID 213700.
  • Salmon, Thomas. Modern history: or, The present state of all nations. By Mr. Salmon. No. XLIII. For the month of December. Being a continuation of the description of Germany; particularly of the circles of the Upper and Lower Saxony, Swabia, &c. London: printed for James Crokatt at the Golden Key, near the Inner-Temple-Gate in Fleet-Street; and sold by J. Graves in St. James’s-Street, J. Jackson in Pall-Mall near St. James’s House, C. King in Westminster-Hall, C. Rivington in St. Paul’s Church-Yard, J. Brotherton at the Bible, and J. Clarke under the Royal Exchange in Cornhill, 1728. ESTC No. N510783. Grub Street ID 359230.
  • Lowe, Solomon. Italian rudiments for the use of Prince William. Propos'd as every way better than any, and more comprehensive than all the grammars and grammatical treatises yet extant in any language. London: MDCCXXVIII. Sold by J. Wyat in Paul's Church-Yard, S. Ballard in Little-Britain, J. Noon in Cheapside, T. Woodward in Fleet-Street, J. Groenwege and N. Prevost, in the Strand, J. Jackson in Pall-Mall, C. King in Westminster-Hall, 1728]. ESTC No. T167067. Grub Street ID 205207.
  • Lowe, Solomon. Latin rudiments for the use of Prince William. Propos'd as much easier than any, and full as comprehensive as need by for the generality of those that learn the language. London: MDCCXXVIII. Sold by J. Wyat in Paul’s Church-yard, S. Ballard in Little-Britain, J. Noon in Cheapside, T. Woodward in Fleet-street, J. Groenwege and N. Prevost in the Strand, J. Jackson in Pall-Mall, C. King in Westminster-hall, [1728]. ESTC No. N54233. Grub Street ID 38048.

Printed for Charles King

  • Watts, Thomas. An essay on the proper method for forming the man of business: in a letter, &c. The third edition, with additions. By Thomas Watts, of the Accomptant's Office for Qualifying Young Gentlemen for Business, in Little Tower-Street. London: printed for Charles King in Westminster-Hall, George Strahan and Ed. Symon, over against the Royal Exchange, William Innys in S. Paul's Church-Yard, and Jonas Brown near Temple-Bar, 1717. ESTC No. N9388. Grub Street ID 54255.
  • Webster, William. An attempt towards rendering the education of youth more easy and effectual, especially with regard to their studies at the writing-school. By William Webster, Writing-Master, Author of Arithmetick in Epitome. London: printed by H. Meere, for C. King in Westminster-Hall, A. Bettesworth in Pater-Noster Row, and J. Roberts in Warwick-Lane, [1718]. ESTC No. N4774. Grub Street ID 32383.
  • Webster, William. Arithmetick in epitome: or, a compendium of all its rules, both vulgar and decimal. In two parts. To which is now added, clear and plain demonstrations deduc'd from the principles of arithmetick its self; without either reference to Euclid, or use of algebra. By William Webster, ... London: printed by H. Meere, for C. King, and A. Bettesworth; and sold by F. Fayram, 1722. ESTC No. N16069. Grub Street ID 5763.
  • A church of England-Man's reasons for taking the oaths to His present Majesty King George. London: printed for C. King; and sold by J. Peele, at Locke's-Head, in Pater-Noster-Row, [1723]. ESTC No. N5151. Grub Street ID 35505.
  • Blackburne, Lancelot. His Grace the Arch-Bishop of York's letter to the right reverend the Lords Bishops of his province: Westminster, March 9th, 1726. London: printed for Charles King, 1727. ESTC No. N66346. Grub Street ID 48086.
  • Innes, Alexander. The great and indispensable duty of frequenting the publick worship of God, set forth. In a sermon preach'd at the opening of the church of St. Margaret Westminster, October the 9th, 1726. ... By Alexander Innes, ... London: printed for C. King: and sold by J. Roberts, 1727. ESTC No. N30749. Grub Street ID 19675.
  • A system of English ecclesiastical law. Extracted from the Codex juris ecclesiastici anglicani of the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of London. For the Use of Young Students in the Universities, who are designed for Holy Orders. By Richard Grey, M. A. Rector of Hinton in Northamptonshire. [London]: In the Savoy: printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, (assigns of Edw. Sayer, Esq;) for C. King, in Westminster-Hall, M.DCC.XXX. [1730]. ESTC No. T147121. Grub Street ID 193699.
  • Peploe, Samuel. A sermon preach'd before the Lords ... in the abbey-church Westminster, on Tuesday, January XXX. 1732. By ... Samuel, Lord Bishop of Chester. London: printed for Cha. King, 1733. ESTC No. T45669. Grub Street ID 273886.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Charles King

  • Defoe, Daniel. The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. who was born in Newgate, ... Written from her own memorandums. London: printed for, and sold by T. Edlin; W. Chetwood; and W. Mears; J. Brotherton; C. King, and J. Stags, 1722. ESTC No. N31966. Grub Street ID 20845.
  • Defoe, Daniel. The fortunes and misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders, &c. who was born in Newgate, And during a Life of continu'd Variety for Threescore Years, besides her Childhood, was Twelve Year a Whore, five times a Wife (whereof once to her own Brother) Twelve Year a Thief, Eight Year a Transported Felon in Virginia, at last grew Rich, liv'd Honest, and died a Penitent. Written from her own memorandums. London: printed for, and sold by W. Chetwood, at Cato's-Head, in Russel-Street, Covent-Garden; and T. Edlin, at the Prince's-Arms, over-against Exeter-Change in the Strand; W. Mears, at the Lamb without Temple-Bar; J. Brotherton, by the Royal-Exchange; C. King, and J Stags, in Westminster Hall, MDCCXXII. [1722]. ESTC No. T70315. Grub Street ID 294074.