Philip Brooksby (fl. 1672–1696)

Identifiers

Occupations

  • Bookseller

Names

  • Philip Brooksby
  • Phillip Brooksby

Philip or Phillip Brooksby, bookseller, 1672–1696; next door to the Ball, in West Smithfield, near to the Hospital Gate; at the Golden Ball, West Smithfield, near the Hospital Gate; at the Golden Harp and Ball near the Bore Tavern in Pye Corner. Succeeded by his widow, Elizabeth Brooksby.

A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725, by Henry Plomer (1922)

BROOKSBY (PHILIP), bookseller in London, (i) next door to the Ball, in West Smithfield, near to the Hospital Gate; (2) Golden Ball, West Smithfield, near the Hospital Gate; (3) Golden Harp and Ball near the Bore Tavern in Pye Corner. 1672–96. Dealer in all kinds of popular and cheap literature such as ballads, chap-books, pamphlets, romances and song-books. He did not avail himself much of the Term Catalogues, where his first entry does not appear until Easter 1673. [T.C. I. 134.] In the previous year he had published several pieces. [Haz. H. 317, 1. 175, in. 30.] In 1683 he had two shops, and amongst the ephemera to be found there were several illustrated poetical broadsides on the great frost and the fair held on the frozen Thames that winter. [B.M. C. 20. f. 2 (160, 161).] His last entry in the Term Catalogues was in Easter 1696. [T.C. II. 583.] He was succeeded by his widow Elizabeth. The Soldier's Fortune, "printed for T. Brooksby at the Golden Ball, Pye Corner", n.d., is probably a misprint for P. Brooksby. [Haz. H. 566.]