Publications of William Collins

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 multiple roles in combination (which suggests a likelihood that the person is a trade publisher):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed: and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

On this last point, trade publishers such as Mary Cooper appeared in imprints as having "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, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally 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 rather than a copyright holder. 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.

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).

Printed by William Collins

  • The Salisbury journal: or Weekly advertiser. [Salisbury, England]: Printed by William Collins and Comp. at the printing-office on the Ditch in Salisbury; where printing in general is perform'd in as handsome a manner, and as cheap as in any part of the kingdom, [1739-. ESTC No. P121. Grub Street ID 55047.

Author

  • Collins, William. Persian eclogues. Written originally for the entertainment of the ladies of Tauris. And now first translated, &c. London : Printed for J. Roberts, in Warwick-Lane, [1742]. ESTC No. T147056. Grub Street ID 193646.
  • Collins, William. Verses humbly address'd to Sir Thomas Hanmer. On his edition of Shakespear's works. By a gentleman of Oxford. London : printed for M. Cooper, in Pater-Noster-Row, [1743]. ESTC No. T125859. Grub Street ID 175916.
  • Collins, William. An epistle: addrest to Sir Thomas Hanmer, on his edition of Shakespear's Works. The second edition. To which is added, a song from the Cymbeline of the same author. By Mr. William Collins, of Magdalene-College in Oxford. London : printed for R. Dodsley, at Tully's Head in Pall-Mall, and M. Cooper, at the Globe in Pater-Noster-Row, M.DCC.LXIV. [1744]. ESTC No. T129559. Grub Street ID 178984.
  • Collins, William. Odes on several descriptive and allegoric subjects. By William Collins. London : Printed for A. Millar, in the Strand, M.DCC.XLVII. [1747] [1746]. ESTC No. T144887. Grub Street ID 191700.
  • Collins, William. Ode occasion'd by the death of Mr. Thomson. By Mr. William Collins. London : printed for R. Manby and H.S. Cox, on Ludgate-Hill, MDCCXLIX. [1749]. ESTC No. T144480. Grub Street ID 191352.
  • Collins, William. Oriental eclogues. Written originally for the entertainment of the ladies of Tauris. And now translated. London : Printed for J. Payne, at Pope's Head, in Pater-Noster-Row, MDCCLVII. [1757]. ESTC No. T43416. Grub Street ID 271994.
  • Collins, William. The passions, an ode. Written by Mr. Collins, and set to musick by Dr. Hayes. Gloucester: printed by R. Bond, 1760. ESTC No. T197455. Grub Street ID 230520.
  • Collins, William. Oriental eclogues. Written originally for the entertainment of the ladies of Tauris. And now translated. The second edition.. London : Printed for Tho. Hope, at the Bible and Anchor, the Corner of Bartholomew-Lane, Threadneedle-Street, M.DCC.LX. [1760]. ESTC No. T193974. Grub Street ID 227988.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With memoirs of the author; and observations on his genius and writings. By J. Langhorne. London : printed for T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, at Tully's Head, near Surry Street in the Strand, MDCCLXV. [1765]. ESTC No. T174434. Grub Street ID 211525.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With memoirs of the author; and observations on his genius and writings. By J. Langhorne. London : printed for T. Becket and P. A. Dehondt, at Tully's Head, near Surry Street in the Strand, MDCCLXV. [1765]. ESTC No. T116729. Grub Street ID 168382.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. To which are added, Mr. Hammond's elegies. Glasgow: printed by Robert and Andrew Foulis, printers to the University, M.DCC.LXX. [1770]. ESTC No. T142076. Grub Street ID 189571.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With memoirs of the author; and observations on his genius and writings. By J. Langhorne. A new edition.. London : printed for T. Becket and P. A. de Hondt, near Surry Street, in the Strand, MDCCLXXI. [1771]. ESTC No. T174433. Grub Street ID 211524.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. To which are added Mr. Hammond's Elegies. Glasgow: printed by Robert & Andrew Foulis, M.DCC.LXXI. [1771]. ESTC No. T85440. Grub Street ID 305752.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. To which are added, Mr. Hammond's Elegies. Edinburgh: printed for J. Balfour and W. Creech, M,DCC,LXXIII. [1773]. ESTC No. T128066. Grub Street ID 177703.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. To which are added, Mr. Hammond's elegies. Glasgow: printed by Robert & Andrew Foulis, 1775. ESTC No. T206565. Grub Street ID 236018.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With memoirs of the author; and observations on his genius and writings. By J. Langhorne. A new edition.. London : Printed for T. Becket and P.A. De Hondt, near Surry-Street, in the Strand, MDCCLXXVI. [1776]. ESTC No. T174436. Grub Street ID 211527.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. To which are added, Mr. Hammond's elegies. Glasgow: printed by Andrew Foulis, M.DCC.LXXVII. [1777]. ESTC No. T78240. Grub Street ID 300109.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. With the life of the author. Edinburg: at the Apollo Press, by the Martins, Anno 1781. ESTC No. T139861. Grub Street ID 187681.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With memoirs of the author; and observations on his genius and writings. By J. Langhorne. A new edition.. London : printed for T. Evans, near York-Buildings, in the Strand, MDCCLXXXI. [1781]. ESTC No. T132782. Grub Street ID 181685.
  • Collins, William. Collins's ode on the passions set to music by Benjamin Cooke . London : printed for the author [i.e. the composer, Benjamin Cooke], and may be had of him in Dorset Court, Westminster, 1784. ESTC No. T190292. Grub Street ID 225475.
  • Collins, William. Dirge in Cymbeline. Salisbury: Fowler, printer, [1785?]. ESTC No. T31896. Grub Street ID 262656.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. Containing his miscellanies, oriental eclogues, odes descriptive and allegorical. &c. &c. London : Printed for Joseph Wenman, No. 144, Fleet-Street, M,DCC,LXXXVI. [1786]. ESTC No. N40520. Grub Street ID 27496.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. Glasgow: printed by Andrew Foulis, 1787. ESTC No. T114636. Grub Street ID 166434.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. With the life of the author. London : printed under the direction of J. Bell, British Library, Strand, Bookseller to his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, 1787. ESTC No. T147062. Grub Street ID 193652.
  • Collins, William. An ode on popular superstitions of the highlands of Scotland; considered as the subject of poetry. Inscribed to Mr. Home, author of Douglas. By Mr. William Collins, author of the Ode on the passions, &c. Never before printed. Dedicated to the wartons. London : Printed by J. Bell, bookseller to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, at this British Library, Strand, 1788. ESTC No. T41964. Grub Street ID 270760.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. Containing his miscellanies, oriental eclogues, odes descriptive and allegorical, &c. &c. &c. Also his ode on the popular superstitions of the Highlands of Scotland. With the author's life, and observations, by Dr. Langhorne. Philadelphia: Printed for Thomas Dobson, at the stone house, in Second Street, MDCCLXXXVIII [i.e. 1789]. ESTC No. W27724. Grub Street ID 337839.
  • Collins, William. An ode on the popular superstitions of the Highlands of Scotland; considered as the subject of poetry. Inscribed to Mr. Home, author of Douglas. By Mr. William Collins, Author of the Ode on the Passions, &c. The second edition.. London : printed by J. Bell, Bookseller to his Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, British Library, Strand, MDCCLXXXIX. [1789]. ESTC No. T4200. Grub Street ID 270799.
  • Collins, William. Oriental eclogues. By William Collins. [Manchester]: Prited [sic] by G. Nicholson and Co., Manchester. Sold by T. Knott; and Champante & Whitrow, London, 1794. ESTC No. N42032. Grub Street ID 28386.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. With the life of the author. London : printed for, and under the direction of, G. Cawthorn, 1796. ESTC No. T202640. Grub Street ID 233484.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. With the life of the author. Cooke's edition. Embellished with superb engravings. London : printed for C. Cooke, No. 17, Paternoster-Row: and sold by all the booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland, [1796]. ESTC No. T93237. Grub Street ID 312937.
  • Collins, William. Poems by William Collins, being odes, ... elegiac odes, oriental eclogues, and miscellaneous pieces. Colchester: from the press of W. Keymer, jun., 1796. ESTC No. T127966. Grub Street ID 177619.
  • Collins, William. Poems by William Collins, containing Oriental eclogues, odes, dirge in Cymbeline, song, &c.; with an account of the author. Manchester: printed at the office of G. Nicholson, 9, Spring-Gardens. Sold by T. Knott, No. 47, Lombard-Street; and Champante & Whitrow, Jewry-Street, London. Anno, 1796. ESTC No. T9508. Grub Street ID 314599.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of Mr. William Collins. With a prefatory essay, By Mrs. Barbauld. London : Printed for T. Cadell, Jun. and W. Davies, in the Strand, 1797. ESTC No. T144932. Grub Street ID 191741.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins, enriched with elegant engravings. To which is prefixed a life of the author, by Dr. Johnson. London : printed by T. Bensley, for E. Harding, No 98, Pall-Mall, 1798. ESTC No. T125340. Grub Street ID 175486.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. Containing his miscellanies, oriental eclogues, odes descriptive and allegorical, . London : printed and embellished under the direction of C. Cooke, [1799]. ESTC No. N67081. Grub Street ID 48703.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins. With the life of the author. Cooke's edition. Embellished with superb engravings. London : printed for C. Cooke, No. 17, Paternoster-Row: and sold by all the booksellers in Great-Britain and Ireland, [1799]. ESTC No. T155218. Grub Street ID 199055.
  • Collins, William. The poetical works of William Collins, enriched with elegant engravings. To which is prefixed a life of the author, by Dr. Johnson. Second edition.. London : printed by T. Bensley, Bolt Court, Fleet Street, for Vernor and Hood, Poultry; Harding, Pall-Mall; Wright, Piccadilly; Sael, Strand; and Lackington, Allen, and Co. Finsbury Square, 1800. ESTC No. T125259. Grub Street ID 175406.
  • Collins, William. Poems by William Collins, containing oriental eclogues, odes, dirge in Cymbeline, song; with the life of the author. [Ludlow]: Printed and sold by George Nicholson, College, Ludlow. Sold also by T. Knott, 47, Lombard-Street; and Champante and Whitrow, 4, Jewry-Street, Aldgate, London, and all other booksellers. Anno, 1799 [1800]. ESTC No. T173304. Grub Street ID 210575.