Publications of Thomas Payne

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).

Sold by Thomas Payne

  • Chaucer, Geoffrey. Matrimonial scenes: consisting of the Seaman's tale, the Manciple's tale, the character of the wife of Bath, the Tale of the wife of Bath, and her five husbands. All modernized from Chaucer. London: printed for the author, and sold by A. Jackson, in Clare-Court, near Clare-Market; T. Payne, in Bishopsgate-Street; W. Shropshire, in New Bond-Street, and all other booksellers, [1750]. ESTC No. T75506. Grub Street ID 298230.

Printed for Thomas Payne

  • Dawson, William. Miscellaneous poems on several occasions. By Mr Dawson, &c. London: printed for J. Roberts; A. Dodd; T. Payne; and J. Fisher, 1735 [1734]. ESTC No. T71696. Grub Street ID 295249.
  • One of the people called Quakers.. Frederick and Augusta. An ode. By one of the people called Quakers. London: printed for J. Roberts, near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane; and Tho. Payne, near the South-Sea House, Bishopsgate-Street, MDCCXXXVI. [1736]. ESTC No. N1412. Grub Street ID 4019.
  • The art of English poetry. Containing, I. Rules for making verses. II. A collection of the most natural, agreeable and sublime thoughts, viz. Allusions, Similes, Descriptions and Characters of Persons and Things, that are to be found in the best English Poets. III. A dictionary of rhymes. By Edward Bysshe, gent. The eighth edition corrected and enlarged. ... London: printed for F. Clay, J. Brotherton, J. R. and J. Hazard, W. Meadows, T. Astley, S. Austen, L. Gilliver, & J. Clarke, C. Corbett, Vand Tho. Payne, Bishopsgate-Street, MDCCXXXVII. [1737]. ESTC No. T148055. Grub Street ID 194463.
  • A compleat collection of all the letters, papers, songs, &c. that have been published on the opposition of the present Common-Council-Men of Bishopsgate Ward, On both Sides, In order of Time as they came out; With some Alterations. Also a Preface proper on the Occasion. Intended as a Preservative to Posterity against the like Practices, if ever hereafter attempted. London: printed for T. Payne in Bishopsgate-Street, 1740. ESTC No. T108492. Grub Street ID 161380.
  • Wingfield, Thomas. The reasonableness and necessity of standing fast in Christian and English liberty. A sermon preach'd in the parish-churches of St. George and St. Thomas, in Southwark, on Sunday, September 29, 1745. By Thomas Wingfield, M. A. Vicar of Yahneton with the Chapel of Revelstock annex'd, in the County of Devon, and Lecturer at St. Thomas's in Southwark. London: printed for Thomas Payne, Bookseller, near the South-Sea House in Bishopsgate-Street, MDCCXLV. [1745]. ESTC No. T4331. Grub Street ID 271889.
  • Wingfield, Thomas. The reasonableness and necessity of standing fast in Christian and English liberty. A sermon preach'd in the parish-churches of St. George and St. Thomas, in Southwark, on Sunday, September 29, 1745. By Thomas Wingfield, M.A. vicar of Yalmeton, with the Chapel of Revelstock annex'd, in the county of Devon, and lecturer at St. Thomas's in Southwark. London: Printed for Thomas Payne, bookseller, near the South-Sea House in Bishopsgate-Street, MDCCXLV. [1745]. ESTC No. T4332. Grub Street ID 271900.
  • Wingfield, Thomas. The lawfulness of wishing destruction to the King's enemies. A sermon Preach'd in the Parish-Church of St. George, in Southwark, On Thursday, October 9, 1746. Being the Day appointed by Proclamation for a general Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the Suppression of the late Unnatural Rebellion, and Deliverance of these Kingdoms from the Calamities of an intestine War. By Thomas Wingfield, M. A. Hospitaler of St. Thomas's in Southwark, and Vicar of Yalmeton in Devon. London: printed for T. Payne, near the South-Sea House in Bishopsgate-Street; and sold by M. Cooper in Pater-Noster-Row, MDCCXLVI. [1746]. ESTC No. T4330. Grub Street ID 271879.
  • Coyer. A discovery of the Island Frivola: or, the Frivolous Island. Translated from the French, now privately handed about at Paris, and said to be agreeable to the English manuscripts concerning that island, and its Inhabitants. Wrote by Order of A-l A-n. The second edition.. London: printed for T. Payne in Bishopsgate-Street; and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster-Row, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. T6318. Grub Street ID 288466.
  • Stokes, Charles. Diligence and courage now requisite in a magistrate. A sermon preached in St. Mary's Church at Stamford in Lincolnshire, before the Corporation, October the 4th, 1750. By Charles Stokes, Rector of Knaptoft in Leicestershire, and Chaplain to his Grace the Duke of Rutland. London: printed by E. Say, for T. Payne, in Bishopsgate-Street: and sold by Mr. Rogers, bookseller in Stamford; Mr. Martens, at Leicester; and Mr. Ayscough, at Nottingham, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. T31859. Grub Street ID 262631.
  • Coyer. A discovery of the Island Frivola: or, the Frivolous Island. Translated from the French, now privately handed about at Paris, and said to be agreeable to the English manuscripts concerning that island, and its inhabitants. Wrote by order of A-l A-n. London: printed for T. Payne in Bishopsgate-Street; and sold by M. Cooper in Paternoster-Row, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. N45546. Grub Street ID 30448.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Thomas Payne

  • Stonehouse, (Samuel). S. A treatise of arithmetic, explain'd in a new method; That will afford the learner particular and more insallible directions in every question, than can be given in any other manner: by way of question and answer. To which is annexed, a catalogue of choice books, mathematical, &c. proper for students in the mathematics. By Samuel Stonehouse. London: Printed and sold by Henry Kent in Finch Lane, near the Royal-Exchange; and Richard Partington, Stationer, next Thavies-Inn Gate, Holborn: also by Messrs. Ward and Chandler, Booksellers, at the Ship without Temple-Bar, and at their Shops in York and Scarborough; and T. Payne, near the South-Sea House, Bishopsgate-street, M,DCC.XXXVII. [1737]. ESTC No. T176568. Grub Street ID 213592.
  • Woodcock, John. Measuring compleated; by a new set of decimal tables accurately calculated. And explained in the most easy and familiar manner. Wherein is shewn by inspection the content of any superficial or solid whatever, to the ten thousandth part of a foot, yard, or rod: also tables shewing at one view the duodecimals equal to any given decimal parts. With a preface, demonstrating the great ease and usefulness of these tables beyond duodecimals, or any other. The whole made compleat to answer all the occasions of gentlemen and artificers, (as masons, bricklayers, carpenters, joiners, sawyers, glaziers, plaisterers, and pavers, &c.) in the most easy and exact method, far beyond any thing yet extant, the dimensions being taken to a quarter of an inch both in length and breadth, &c. By John Woodcock. London: printed and sold by J. Brindley in New Bond-Street; J. Stagg in Westminster-Hall; J. Oswald in the Poultry; J. Clark, and H. Whitridge, under the Royal-Exchange; and T. Payne in Bishopsgate-Street, 1738. ESTC No. T39082. Grub Street ID 268439.
  • The proceedings at the sessions of the peace, and oyer and terminer, for the City of London, and County of Middlesex, on Friday the 4th, Saturday the 5th, Monday the 7th, and Tuesday the 8th of December, In the 15th Year of His Majesty's Reign. Number 1. for the Year 1742. Being the First sessions in the Mayoralty of the Right Honble Sir Robert Godschall, Knt. Lord-Mayor of the City of London. London: printed and sold by T. Payne, in Bishopsgate-Street, near the South-Sea-House, M,DCC.XLII. [1742]. ESTC No. T64328. Grub Street ID 289406.
  • The merry man's companion, and evenings agreeable entertainer: containing near six hundred of the very best and most favourite songs, catches, airs, &c. now in vogue; many of which were never yet published; together With the songs of the late seasons at the Public Gardens: The like not Extant. The whole Design'd for Mirth and Jollity, is printed in an alphabetical order for the Readier finding out any particular song. London: printed and sold by H. Kent in Finch-Lane, and Tho. Payne Bookseller near the South Sea House in Bishopsgate Street, MDCCL. [1750]. ESTC No. T179157. Grub Street ID 215942.

Author

  • Payne, Thomas. Catalogus librorum in omni literatura. A catalogue of several libraries and parcels lately purchas'd; Containing near 3000 volumes, among which are great numbers of scarce and useful books, rarely to be met with: to which are added, a large number of the best modern books, entirely new. Being a choice collection of the best authors in mathematicks, history, travels, divinity, poetry, trade, alchemy, lives, physick, antiquity, voyages, architecture, novels, husbandry, surgery, romances; and all branches of polite literature. With some very good books in Latin French, Italian, Greek, Hebrew, &c. Together with a choice collection of scarce old plays, in 30 volumes, containing such only as were never re-printed in small or in setts: also a fine parcel of above 350 French and Italian prints, disposed into lots; all which will begin to be sold cheap (the price being to each book in the catalogue) on Monday, March the 12th, 1738-9. By Thomas Payne, bookseller, near the south-sea house in Westmin. London: s.n., 1739. ESTC No. T231723. Grub Street ID 359226.
  • Payne, Thomas. A catalogue of the well-chosen library of Mr. William Chilwell, ... To begin selling on Monday February 9th, 1740-1. ... By Thomas Payne,. London, 1741. ESTC No. T74954. Grub Street ID 359227.