Thomas Axe (fl. 1692–1705)

AXE (THOMAS), bookseller, bookbinder, and book-auctioneer in London, (i) Holiday Yard in Creed Lane, near Ludgate Street, 1692; (2) Blue Ball in Duck Lane, 1696. 1692–1703. Dunton [p. 258] describes him as a man "of a great deal of wit and honesty. ... He was my chief binder for ten years; but honest Tom has met with losses ... but, notwithstanding ... I believe Mr. Axe will get money enough: for he is not only a good binder, but sells Books, Globes, Auctions". In 1692 he published an Epitome of the Whole Art of War. [T.C. II. 394.] His last entry was in Trinity 1696: Letters and Essays on several subjects ... in Prose and Verse to John Dryden Esq. ... Mr. Congreve and other ingenious men of the age. By several Gentlemen and Ladies. [T.C. II. 592]. He was apparently still in business when Dunton wrote in 1703.

AXE, THOMAS. He was a bookbinder for the greater part of his life, having set up in that trade as early as 1692; but by the time that Dunton was writing his 'Life and Errors,' apparently, he was also selling books, for Dunton declares "he is not only a good binder but sells books, globes, auctions, etc." At this date he conducted his business at the Black Ball in Duck Lane.

—Frederick T. Wood, 18 July 1931

AXE, THOMAS. He is described by DR. WOOD as a bookbinder, and his addressas the Black Ball in Duck Lane. Arber and Plomer, however, give his sign as the Blew Ball in Duck Lane in 1696–1703. Before that he was in Holyday Yard, Creed Lane. John Dunton says he was not only a bookbinder, "but sells books, globes, auctions." (sic.).