Publications of the proprietors

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 the proprietors

  • Dilworth, Thomas. A new guide to the English tongue: in five parts. Containing, I. Words both common and proper, from one to six Syllables: The several Sorts of Monasyllables in the common Words being distinguished by Tables, into Words of two, three, and four Letters, &c. with six short Lessons at the End of each Table, not exceeding the order of Syllables in the foregoing Tables. The several Sorts of Pollysyllables also, being ranged in proper Tables, have their Syllables divided, and Directions placed at the Head of each Table for the Accent, to prevent false Pronunciation; together with the like Number of Lessons on the foregoing Tables, placed at the End of each Table, as far as to Words of four Syllables, for the easier and more speedy Way of teaching Children to read. II. A large and useful Table of Words, that are the same in Sound, but different in Signification; very necessary to prevent the writing one Word for another of the same Sound. III. A short, but comprehensive Grammar of the English Ton. London: printed for the proprietors, [1790?]. ESTC No. N10189. Grub Street ID 191.