Publications of Robert Main

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."

Printed for Robert Main

  • Haywood, Eliza. The history of Miss Betsy Thoughtless, in two volumes. ... Dublin: printed for Robert Main, 1752. ESTC No. N53225. Grub Street ID 37163.
  • The clerk's assistant in the practice of the ecclesiastical courts: containing the method of proceedings there. Extracted from The best Books of Practice, And more regularly and clearly laid down than has hitherto been done. Interspersed with some few observations in matters of law. By the Reverend William Cockburn, L.L.B. Dublin: printed for Robert Main, Bookseller, at Homer's Head, in Dame-Street, MDCCLIII. [1753]. ESTC No. N2959. Grub Street ID 18705.
  • Smollett, Tobias George. The adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom. By the author of Roderick Random. In two volumes. Vol. I. Dublin: printed for R. Main, Bookseller, in Dame-Street, MDCCLIII. [1753]. ESTC No. N16236. Grub Street ID 5916.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The history of Jemmy and Jenny Jessamy. By the author of The history of Betsy Thoughtless. ... Dublin: printed for R. Main, 1753. ESTC No. T75383. Grub Street ID 298109.
  • Delany, Patrick. Observations upon Lord Orrery's Remarks on the life and writings of Dr. Jonathan Swift. Containing several singular anecdotes relating to the character and conduct of that great genius, and the most deservedly celebrated Stella. In a series of letters to his Lordship. To which are added, two original pieces of the same author (excellent in their kind) never before publish'd. Dublin: printed for Robert Main at Homer's Head in Dame-Street, MDCCLIV. [1754]. ESTC No. N10807. Grub Street ID 807.
  • Leland, John. The case fairly stated: or, an inquiry How far the Clause Lately Rejected By the Honourable House of Commons, Would, if it had Passed, have Affected the Liberties of the People of Ireland. Dublin: printed for R. Main, at Homer's Head in Dame-Street, M,DCC,LIV. [1754]. ESTC No. T2119. Grub Street ID 239317.
  • Haywood, Eliza. The invisible spy. By Exploralibus. Vol. I. Dublin: printed for Robert Main, Bookseller, at Homer's-Head in Dame-Street, MDCCLV. [1755]. ESTC No. N8637. Grub Street ID 53540.