Publications of the assigns

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 by the assigns

  • The psalms of David in metre: Newly Translated, and diligently Compared with the Original Text, and former Translations. More plain, smooth, and agreeable to the Text, than any heretofore. Allowed by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, and appointed to be sung in Congregations and Families. Edinburgh: printed by the assigns of Alexander Kincaid, His Majesty's Printer, MDCCLXXXIX. [1789]. ESTC No. T53113. Grub Street ID 280106.

Sold by the assigns

  • Wilkinson, William. The baptism of the Holy Spirit, without elementary water, demonstratively proved to be the true baptism of Christ. In answer to a book subscribed by John Hammett, of Newport in Rhode-Island, intituled, The baptism of water ... By William Wilkinson. London: printed and sold by the assigns of J. Sowle, 1718. ESTC No. N16588. Grub Street ID 6165.

Printed for the assigns

  • Dodsley, Robert. The economy of human life. In two parts. Newly revised and corrected. London: printed for the assigns of J. Dodsley; Vernor and Hood; Ogilvy and son; Lackington, Allen, and co. J. Nichols; and Darton and Harvey, 1798. ESTC No. N1235. Grub Street ID 2352.