Publications of Charles Hitch

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

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 Charles Hitch

  • Wood, John. Choir Gaure, vulgarly called Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain, Described, Restored, and Explained; In a letter to The Right Honourable Edward late Earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer. By John Wood, Architect. Oxford: printed at the Theatre in the year 1747. And sold by C. Hitch in Pater-Noster-Row; and S. Birt in Ave-Mary-Lane, London; by J. Leake in Bath; and by B. Collins in Salisbury, [1747]. ESTC No. T63382. Grub Street ID 288638.

Printed for Charles Hitch

  • Haywood, Eliza. Secret histories, novels, and poems. In four volumes. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. Vol. I. London: printed [by Samuel Richardson, Henry Woodfall and another printer] for A. Bettesworth, and C. Hitch, in Pater-Noster-Row; D. Browne, without Temple-Bar; T. Astley, in St. Paul's Church-Yard; and T. Green, at Charing-Cross, M.DCC.XXXII. [1732]. ESTC No. T75387. Grub Street ID 298113.
  • Barker, Jane. The entertaining novels of Mrs. Jane Barker, of Wilsthorp in Northamptonshire. ... London: printed for Messrs Bettesworth and Hitch, and E. Curll, 1736. ESTC No. N6580. Grub Street ID 47619.
  • Ward, Edward. Nuptial dialogues and debates: or, an useful prospect of the felicities and discomforts of a marry'd life, Incident to all Degrees, from the Throne to the Cottage. Containing Many great Examples of Love, Piety, Prudence, Justice, and all the Excellent Vertues, that largely contribute to the true Happiness of Wedlock. Drawn from the Lives of our own Princes, Nobility, and other Quality, in Prosperity and Adversity. Also the fantastical Humours of all Fops, Coquets, Bullies, Jilts, fond Fools, and Wantons; old Fumblers, barren Ladies, Misers, parsimonious Wives, Ninnies, Sluts and Termagants; drunken Husbands, toping Gossips, schismatical Precisians, and devout Hypocrites of all Sorts. Digested into serious, merry, and satirical poems, wherein both Sexes, in all Stations, are reminded of their Duty, and taught how to be happy in a Matrimonial State. In two volumes. By Edward Ward, Author of the London Spy. London: printed for Mess. Bettesworth, and Hitch, Ware, and Osborn, in Pater-Noster-Row; Hodges, on London-Bridge; Baily, in Mitre-Court, Fleetstreet; and Cummins, at the Royal Exchange, 1737. ESTC No. T125015. Grub Street ID 175188.
  • Salmon, Thomas. Modern history: or, the present state of all nations. Describing their respective situations, persons, habits, Buildings, Manners, Laws and Customs, Religion and Policy, Arts and Sciences, Trades, Manufactures and Husbandry, Plants, animals and minerals. Being The most complete and correct System of Geography and Modern History extant in any Language. By Mr. Salmon. Illustrated with cuts and maps accurately drawn according to the Geographical Part of this Work, by Herman Moll. Vol. I. London: printed for Messrs. Bettesworth and Hitch in Pater-Noster-Row; J. Clarke under the Royal Exchange in Cornhill; S. Birt in Ave Mary Lane; Tho. Wotton over against St. Dunstan's Church, and J. Shuckburgh next the Inner Temple Gate, both in Fleetstreet; and T. Osborne in Gray's-Inn, M.DCC.XXXIX. [1739]. ESTC No. N5082. Grub Street ID 34845.
  • Practitioner in the law.. The young clerk's magazine: or, English law-repository. Containing a variety of the most useful precedents of Articles of Agreement, Bonds, Bills, Recognizances, Releases, Letters and Warrants of Attorney, Awards, Bills of Sale, Gifts, Grants, Leases, Assignments, Mortgages, Surrenders. Jointures, Covenants, Copartnerships, Charterparties, Letters of Licence, Compositions, Conveyances, Partitions, Wills, and all other Instruments that relate to Publick Business. With Necessary Directions for making Distresses for Rent, &c. as the Law between Landlord and Tenant now stands. To which is added The Doctrine of Fines and Recoveries, and their forms. Together with Those of Common Writs, Affidavits, Memorials for Registring Deeds, &c. in Middlesex; as also a choice Collection of Declarations in the King's Bench and Common Pleas. By a practitioner in the law. [London]: In the Savoy: printed by E. and R. Nutt, and R. Gosling, (assigns of E. Sayer, Esq;) for Mess. Bettesworth and Hitch, at the Red-Lion in Pater-Noster Row, and J. Hodges, at the Looking-Glass on London-Bridge, 1739. ESTC No. N14340. Grub Street ID 4222.
  • The British Apollo: in three volumes. Containing two thousand answers to curious questions in most arts and sciences, Serious, Comical, and Humorous; approved of by many of the most learned and ingenious of both universities, and of the Royal society. Perform'd by a society of gentlemen. London: printed by James Bettenham for Charles Hitch, at the Red Lion, in Pater-Noster-Row, MDCCXL. [1740]. ESTC No. N32741. Grub Street ID 21304.
  • S., J.. The shepherd's kalender. Or, the citizen's and country man's daily companion: ... To which is added, the country man's almanack, ... London: printed for C H[i]tch; R. Ware; and J. Hodges, [1740?]. ESTC No. T220883. Grub Street ID 244388.
  • Ovid. P. Ovidii Nasonis Metamorphoseon libri XV. Cum versione Anglica, ... Or, Ovid's Metamorphoses. With an English translation, ... By John Clarke, ... London: printed for C. Hitch; J. Munby, and J. Mace, in Hull; and T. Hammond, in York, 1741. ESTC No. N19365. Grub Street ID 8782.
  • Haywood, Eliza. Secret histories, novels, and poems. In four volumes. Written by Mrs. Eliza Haywood. Vol. I. London: printed for R. Ware, in Amen-Corner; S. Birt, in Ave-Mary-Lane; D. Browne, without Temple-Bar; C. Hitch, in Paternoster-Row; and S. Austen, in St. Paul's Church-Yard, 1742. ESTC No. T75388. Grub Street ID 298114.
  • Carter, Charles. The London and country cook: or, accomplished housewife, containing practical directions and the best receipts in all the branches of cookery and housekeeping ; ... and illustrated with forty-nine large copper plates. By Charles Carter, ... London: printed for Charles Hitch; Stephen Austen, and John Hinton, 1749. ESTC No. T123911. Grub Street ID 174214.
  • Cheselden, William. The anatomy of the human body. By W. Cheselden, Surgeon to his Majesty's Royal Hospital at Chelsea Fellow of the Royal Society And Member of The Royal Academy of Surgeons at Paris. London: printed for C: Hitch & R: Dodsley, 1750. ESTC No. N30405. Grub Street ID 19369.
  • A defence of natural and revealed religion: being an abridgment of the sermons preached at the lecture founded by the Honble Robert Boyle, Esq; by Dr. Bentley Bp. Kidder Bp. Williams Bp. Gastrell Dr. Harris Bp. Bradford Bp. Blackhall Dr. Stanhope Dr. S. Clarke Dr. Hancock Mr. Whiston Dr. Turner Dr. Butler Dr. Woodward Mr. Derham Dr. Ibbot Bp. Leng Dr. J. Clarke Archd. Gurdon Dr. Burnet Dr. Berriman. In four volumes. With a general index. By Gilbert Burnet, Vicar of Coggeshall, Essex. London: printed for Charles Hitch and Lacy Hawes, at the Red-Lion, in Pater Noster-Row, MDCCLII. [1752]. ESTC No. N8419. Grub Street ID 53325.
  • Pott, Percivall. Observations on the nature and consequences of wounds and contusions of the head, fractures of the skull, concussions of the brain, &c. By Percivall Pott, Surgeon to St. Bartholomew's Hospital. London: printed for C. Hitch and L. Hawes, at the Red-Lion, Pater-Noster-Row, M.DCC.LX. [1760]. ESTC No. N10019. Grub Street ID 27.
  • Salmon, William. Palladio Londinensis; or, the London art of building. In three parts. I. Containing a demonstration of all the geometrical problems ... III. Copiously treating of the several kinds of stair-cases; ... The whole illustrated with fifty-four copper plates. To which is annexed The builder's dictionary. By William Salmon. London: printed for C. Hitch, L. Haws, J. Rivington, R. Baldwin, W. Johnston, [and 7 others in London], 1762. ESTC No. N11249. Grub Street ID 1245.

Printed by and for, or by/for and sold by Charles Hitch

  • Multum in parvo, or, the jubilee of jubilees. Being a description of the great millenium, or, kingdom of Christ on earth; ... With a description of the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem; ... Together, with an humble and serious search or inquiry into the doctrines of election, and reprobatation [sic]; ... London: printed and sold by Mess. Bettesworth and Hitch, R. Ford and R. Hett; and T. Warren, in Birmingham, 1732. ESTC No. T93748. Grub Street ID 313397.
  • Hell's everlasting flames avoided: Heaven's eternal felicities enjoyed. Containing the Penitent Sinner's sad Lamentation for the Deplorableness of his Impious Life. With a short View of the Terrors of the Damned in Hell; and his holy Resolutions to a thorough Reformation: With some Considerations upon the Glory of the Saints in Heaven. Also Holy Preparations to a worthy Receiving of the Lords 'supper: With devout Prayers, Praises and Thanksgivings, upon several Occasions; with Graces before and after Meat. The five and thirtieth edition. By John Hayward, D.D. London: printed and sold by Mess: Bettesworth, Hitch and Osborn, in Paternoster-Row, and J. Hodges, on London Bridge, 1733. ESTC No. T36084. Grub Street ID 266057.