Publications of J. Wren

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."

Sold by J. Wren

  • The theatre of mirth; or, fun a-la-mode. Containing great Variety of Diverting Jests, Entertaining Stories, Pleasing Tales, Comical Bulls, Smart Repartees, Keen Waggeries, Brilliant Bon Mots, Quaint Sayings, Queer Puns, Wonderful Frolicks, Droll Narrations, Merry Adventures, Puzzling Conundrums, Humourous Riddles, Funny Rebusses, Whimsical Epigrams, Strange Epitaphs, Odd Letters, &c. Exhibited upon The Great Stage of the World, by those Choice Spirits and Droll Characters, who excite Mirth, improve the Understanding, and give a Relish to Life. The Whole being design'd To banish Sorrow, chear the Heart, enliven the Countenance, quicken the Senses, and procure Mirth and good Humour. London: printed and sold by J. Wren, opposite the New-Exchange Buildings, in the Strand; S. Bladon, in Pater-Noster-Row; and J. Kingman, at the Royal-Exchange, [1765?]. ESTC No. T178260. Grub Street ID 215200.

Printed for J. Wren

  • Longueville, Peter. The hermit: or, the unparallel'd sufferings and surprising adventures of Mr. Philip Quarll, an Englishman: who was lately discovered by Mr. Dorrington, a Bristol merchant, upon an uninhabited Island in the South-Sea; where he has lived above Fifty Years, without any Human Assistance; still continues to reside, and will not come away. Containing, I. His Conferences with Those who found him out; to whom he recites the most material Circumstances of his Life; as, that he was born in the Parish of St. Giles, educated by the charitable Contribution of a Lady, and put 'prentice to a Locksmith. II. How he left his Master, and was taken up with a notorious House-Breaker, who was hanged; how, after his Escape, he went to Sea a Cabin-Boy, married a famous whore, listed himself a common Soldier, turned Singing-Master, and married three Wives, for which he was tried and condemned at the Old Baily. III. How he was pardoned by King Charles II. turned Merchant, and was shipwrecked on this desolate Islan. The fourth edition.. London: printed for J. Wren, opposite New Exchange Buildings in the Strand; S. Crowder, H. Woodgate, J. Fuller, and J. Warcus, 1768. ESTC No. N2330. Grub Street ID 12659.