Scottish Printers and Booksellers 1668-1775: A
Second Supplement
(I)
by
Robert Hay Carnie
This second supplement to the Scottish entries in the dictionaries of
the British book trade for the period 1668-1775[1] records 180 printers, booksellers,
bookbinders and papermakers not contained in these dictionaries nor in the
first supplement.[2] In so far as it
consists of new names only it differs from the first
supplement
which consisted both of new entries and of additional material to existing
entries. The sources of information used on this occasion proved to be so
fruitful that a large bulk of additional and corrective material to existing
entries has been laid aside to await a complete revision of Plomer and
Bushnell. In the meantime, the following list may be of use to students of
the Scottish book trade.
The sources which lie behind the entries can be divided up into three
main groups: Imprints, manuscripts records and secondary printed
material.
1. The imprints of several hundred books and pamphlets printed
between 1668 and 1775, and not utilized by previous investigators in this
field, have been examined.[3] As
might be expected at this stage of investigation, such works are usually of
an ephemeral or specialized variety and are not commonly found outside
Scottish academic or theological libraries. These imprints provided a
valuable cross-check on information taken from secondary sources.
2. Four manuscripts sources were used. The first of these was an
account book for
The Weekly Magazine, or Edinburgh
Amusement.
[4] This magazine
ran from 1768 to 1784 and was conducted by Walter Ruddiman, Junior,
until his death in June 1781, but the account book covers only the period
1768 to 1773. The account book deals chiefly with the purchase of sets of
the magazine, rather than single numbers, by Edinburgh and country
booksellers. It seems unlikely that it provides a complete list of the
booksellers who handled Ruddiman's
Weekly Magazine, for
the
names of a number of well known Edinburgh booksellers are missing; but
it provides a useful guide to booksellers in the smaller towns, and reveals
that the magazine was read all over Scotland. It has long been known that
the magazine was extremely popular. The weekly news section and the
popularity of Robert Fergusson's poetry, much of which appeared in its
pages for the first time, both helped to build up its circulation to three
thousand copies weekly
in the winter of 1776. Another manuscript source interesting in itself was
the records of the Wright Incorporation of Perth. Minute books and
indenture books of this ancient calling cover the period 1538 to 1864 and
have been described in full elsewhere
[5] but I have incorporated into this
list men
concerned in the book trade in Perth from 1668 to 1775 whose names are
not to be found in Plomer and Bushnell. The Hammerman Book of the
hammermen trade in the ancient Burgh of St. Andrews
[6] has provided two entries, and the
Library—quaestor accounts of St. Andrews University
[7] provided the name of an
unrecorded
bookbinder to that university who operated in the last two decades of the
17th century.
3. These primary sources taken altogether provided much less new
material than the main secondary source which was the advertisement pages
of contemporary newspapers. A systematic examination of The
Caledonian Mercury from its beginning in April 1720 to the end of
1775, and of The Aberdeen Journal from its beginning in
December
1747 to 1775
[8] was made. The
greatest gains made here were amongst those whose main function was what
we would now call the
retail side of the book
trade—that is,
those who were concerned with the sale of books, pamphlets and
newspapers over their counters in the smaller Scottish towns. The names of
such men do appear sometimes on the title papers of the
period—particularly when they had a financial interest in a
publication
and had that work printed for them in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
[9] The advertisements, however,
proved
even in those cases to be the guide which could lead an investigator to the
publications themselves. Bookbinders are another group which are unlikely
to figure in imprints in their capacity as binders,
[10] though in a large number of cases
in the
18th century a bookseller was also a bookbinder, or, alternatively, a large
bookselling establishment would have a
bookbinder on their staff. It is important to note, however, that the
advertisements reveal the names of both booksellers and bookbinders at the
journeymen level in the bigger establishments whose names might otherwise
never be known. Certain kinds of advertisements other than straightforward
lists of books for sale proved useful. Most of these were primarily
concerned with the booktrade itself and include such things as prospectuses
for books to be printed by subscription, or in number-issues, but the list
would be seriously circumscribed if the investigator had limited himself to
this kind of advertisement. Notices of property for sale; advertisements by
the stockists of patent medicines, and lists of names of those shops who
were willing to take in cloth for the bleaching mills of Scotland all provided
further examples of Scottish retail booksellers. It has long been well known
that such patent medicines as Turlington's Drops, Radcliff's Purging Elixir,
Baume de Vie and
Anderson's Pills were a profitable side-line with bookseller-stockists in the
smaller towns. It is not so well known that a number of booksellers
were prepared to collect linen cloth for the large bleach fields which are
found on so many rivers in Scotland and which required collecting points
in nearby towns. In both these kinds of advertisement, only stockists or
collectors actually designated "bookseller" in the advertisement itself, have
been included in the list. In most cases the fact that the individuals
concerned were booksellers is corroborated by other kinds of evidence. It
should perhaps be noted that the advertisements concerning book
auctions—a favourite method of stock dispersal in the 18th century
both
to the public and to other members of the trade—reveal that such
auctions
generally took place in large halls or rooms and not on the booksellers' own
premises. The file of
The Scots Magazine, from its beginning
to the end of the 18th century, was also carefully scrutinized, particularly
the book lists and the sections dealing with domestic events and criminal
proceedings.
The other secondary printed sources used were modern. Great
assistance was gained from Ewing's provisional list of Glasgow printers,
which was not issued to the public; from the Scottish Record Society's list
of burgesses of Glasgow from 1751 to 1846, and from the memorial
catalogue of the 1894 Glasgow Exhibition. The entries on paper makers
owe much to Waterston's important articles on paper makers in the
Edinburgh district.
In each entry an attempt has been made to give, if known, the
following kinds of information: 1. The full name of the tradesman. 2. The
place of business. 3. The precise nature of his occupation or occupations.
4. The terminal dates of his known period of activity. 5. Evidence of
partnership with other members of the book trade.
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
- A.B.L. The Aberdeen Book-Lover,
Aberdeen, 1913-1933.
- A.J. The Aberdeen Journal,
1748-1775.
- A.U.L. Aberdeen University Library.
- B.B. Brown's Bookstall, Aberdeen,
1892-1894.
- B. & G. B. 1751-1846 Scottish Record Society, The
Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow, 1751-1846, Edinburgh,
1931-.
- Bibliotheck The Bibliotheck A Journal of
Bibliographical Notes and Queries Mainly of Scottish Interest,
1956-.
- Bushnell G.H. Bushnell, Scottish Printers,
Booksellers and Bookbinders, in Plomer, Bushnell and Dix,
A
Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at work in England,
Scotland and Ireland from 1726 to 1775, 1932.
- C.M. The Caledonian Mercury,
1720-1775.
- Couper R.G.B.S. W.J. Couper, 'The Glasgow Periodical
Press', Records of the Glasgow Bibliographical Society, Vol.
VIII.
- D.W.A. The Dundee Weekly
Advertiser,
various numbers.
- E.E.C. The Edinburgh Evening
Courant,
various numbers.
- Ewing 'Provisional Lists of Printers in Glasgow,
1638-1800,' The Glasgow Bibliographical Society, no. LXII.
(By J.C. Ewing.)
- La. III, 752 Edinburgh University Library, Laing MSS,
III, 752.
- Old Glasgow The Memorial Catalogue of the Old
Glasgow Exhibition 1894. Published by the Glasgow Institute
of the Fine Arts Anno MDCCCXCIV.
- Plomer H.R. Plomer, A Dictionary of the
Printers and Booksellers who were at work in England, Scotland and
Ireland from 1668 to 1725, 1922.
- R.G.B.S. Records of the Glasgow
Bibliographical Society.
- S.M. The Scots Magazine,
1739-1800.
- St. A.U.L. St. Andrews University Library.
- Typ. Scot. Gad. Typographica Scoto-Gadelica,
Edinburgh, 1915.
- Waterston O.E.C. R. Waterston, 'Early Paper Making near
Edinburgh', The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, XXV
(1945), and XXVII (1949).
ADAM (ALEXANDER), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1773-1799; Gallowgate, 1773-74.
- Adam started to publish a periodical in January, 1773, entitled
The Glasgow Museum, Or Weekly Instructor. printed
by
Alexander Adam and sold by him at his house opposite the Red Lion,
Gallowgate. In May, 1773, he published in numbers a 2-volume
work
called A New System of Catholic Theology. Ewing gives the
dates of his activity as 1773-1799. (C.M., May 29, 1773; C.M., October
29, 1774; Couper. R.G.B.S. VIII, 117,; Old Glasgow, p. 438.)
ADAM (ALEXANDER), merchant in Forfar,
1771-1773.
- Adam bought sets of Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine
in
1771 and 1772. The last date attached to his name is January 13, 1773. He
is not described in the account-book as "bookseller'. (La. III,
752.)
ADAMSON (WILLIAM), bookbinder and porter in St. Andrews,
1684-1696.
- Adamson was porter of the New College, St. Andrews (which is
now called St. Mary's College). In the accounts for the public library for
1684 is the following discharge: 'Given to Will. Adamson for binding
sixteen folios at 3s. sterl. the fol. and three 4tos at 16ss
each 4to the
soume of thritie one pound 4s by the Universities order.' Similar accounts
exist for 1692 and 1696. Unfortunately no details of actual books bound are
given.
AITKEN (ROBERT), bookseller in Paisley, 1764.
- Aitken's name appears in the imprint of the following work.
A Collection of about Fifty Religious Letters, expressing the various
duties and exercises. . . . By John Monro. late Wright in
Edinburgh.
Glasgow: Printed for Robert Aitken, bookseller in Paisley MDCCLXIV.
(St. A.U.L.)
AITKINE OR AITKEN (WILLIAM), bookseller in Lanark,
1770-1772.
- Aitkine bought sets of Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine
from 1770 to 1772. The last date associated with his name in the account
book is December 24th, 1772. (La. III, 752)
ALEXANDER (CHARLES), bookseller in Edinburgh. Geddes's
Close, 1751.
- In November, 1751, Alexander advertised thus: 'This day is
published, in one Volume Octavo, neatly bound. Price 5s. Poems on
various subjects and occasions by the Honourable Alexander Robertson of
Strowan. Sold by Charles Alexander at his house in Geddes's close
where subscribers may call for their copies'. There is a short list of other
books for sale. (C.M., Nov. 12, 1751.)
ANDERSON (WILLIAM), bookseller in Stirling,
1772-1797.
- Anderson bought sets of Ruddiman's Weekly
Magazine
in 1772. In 1774 he sold J. Swanston's Sermons on several Important
Subjects. He was still in business in 1797. (La. III, 752; C.M.,
March 19, 1774; Typ. Scot. Gad. p. 324.)
ALLAN (LAURENCE), printer?, servant to Robert Fleming,
1767.
- It is clear from an account of a trial in The Scots
Magazine that Allan was a principal servant of Fleming's in his
printing-house with special responsibility for The Edinburgh Evening
Courant. (S.M., July, 1767, p. 338.)
ANNANDALE (WILLIAM), papermaker at Auchendinny,
1745-1782.
- Annandale was in business at Auchendinny from 1745 to 1782, in
which year the Cadells took over the mill, though William Annandale,
junior, continued in the business. William Annandale, the elder, won silver
medals for his papers from the Edinburgh Society. (S.M., Jan., 1757;
S.M., April, 1759; Waterston O.E.C., XXV, 70; XXVII, 54.)
BAILLIE (JAMES), advocate in Edinburgh, 1734-36.
- Baillie was not properly a bookseller, but for some reason he was
publisher and selling-agent of Sir Thomas Craig's De Feudis.
He issued a notice to subscribers in July, 1734, pointing out that the book
was now available from Walter Ruddiman at the Printing-house, Parliament
close, and another in February, 1736 which said: 'Subscribers are asked to
call for the book at Mr Baillie's house, about the middle of Muslin's Wynd,
opposite to the back entry of the Poultry-market where all others may be
served with the same book'. (C.M., July 25th, 1734; C.M., February 5th,
1736.)
BAILLIE (JOHN), printer and bookseller, Edinburgh, 1753-1755.
Parliament Close, 1753.
- Baillie advertised books for sale in 1753. e.g. The Life of
George Castriot, King of Epirus and Albania. This day is published
and sold by John Baillie, Bookseller in the Parliament Close. In 1755 we
find: Mahomet the Imposter. A Tragedy. . . . . By
Mons.
Voltaire. Edinburgh: Printed by J. Baillie and
Company,
M.DCC. LV. (S.M., May, 1755, p. 272; C.M., July 10,
1753.
A.U.L. copy of Mahomet.)
BANKS (R.), bookseller in Stirling, 1755-1771.
- James Fordyce's The Method of promoting
edification
. . . was printed in Glasgow for Banks in 1755. In 1758 his name is listed
in The Aberdeen Journal as holding proposals for a London
edition in weekly numbers of Smollett's History of England.
Similarly in The Caledonian Mercury in 1771, we find him
holding proposals for printing by subscription an edition of The
Works
of George Whitefield. (Copy of Fordyce A.U.L.; A. J., Feb. 14,
1758; C.M., Mar. 2, 1771.)
BAXTER (WILLIAM), foreman papermaker at Gifford,
1774.
- In 1774 the paper-mill at Gifford, owned by the Marquis of
Tweeddale, was offered to let for the remaining five years of tack at 40
pounds per annum. Gifford was 16 miles from Edinburgh and 3 miles from
Haddington. Prospective tenants were asked to get in touch with William
Baxter, foreman at the mill. (C.M., April 11, 1774.)
BELL (ALEXANDER), stationer in St. Andrews,
1707-1742(?).
- Alexander Bell, stationer, and treasurer of St. Andrews, was
admitted to the Hammerman Craft on 12th Sept., 1707 (cf. Bushnell, p.
282). (Hammerman Book, St. A.U.L.)
BELL (WILLIAM), printer in Glasgow, 1766-1780.
- In 1766 Bell printed a two-volume edition of De Re
Medica by Celsus, and in 1780 A new Collection in Prose
and
Verse, for the Use of Schools. Ewing says that Bell was printing in
1766 and William Bell and Company in 1769. He was certainly printing
with W. Gilmour in 1768. William Bell was made Burgess and Guild
Brother of Glasgow on 24th April, 1777, by right of his father, Malcolm
Bell, Merchant. (B. & G.B. 1751-1846, p. 104.; Old Glasgow, pp.
394-395.)
BLACK (JAMES), glazier and stationer in Perth, 1696.
- Black was admitted as a freeman Wright on 8 Feb., 1696. He was
lawful son to Thomas Black, Wright, and his right of entry was as a
freeman's son (cf. Bibliotheck, I, no. 4, p. 32).
BLACK (PATRICK), glazier and stationer in Perth,
1687.
- Probably the eldest brother of James Black. He was admitted
freeman of the Wright calling on 31 Dec., 1687. (Bibliotheck, I, no. 4, p.
32.)
BOGLE (ROBERT), bookseller in Glasgow, 1759.
- Robert Bogle, bookseller, was made a Burgess and Guild Brother
of Glasgow as eldest lawful son to the deceased Robert Bogle, merchant on
19th April, 1759. (B. & G.B. 1751-1846, p. 31.)
BOYD (P.), bookseller in Dundee, 1759-1760.
- Boyd is named as a bookseller stocking the following book in the
pages of The Aberdeen Journal in 1759: The British
Negociator, by S. Thomas, Merchant. In 1760 he is said to stock
No.
1. of the London publication
called The Christian Magazine, Price 6d. (A.J., April 3,
1759;
May 26, 1760.)
BREUSCH (PETER), papermaker at Canonmills, Edinburgh,
1681.
- Breusch made paper at Canonmills about 1681. He afterwards set
up the same manufacture at Restalrig. (Waterson O.E.C., XXV,
54-55.)
BROWN (WILLIAM), bookseller in Glasgow, 1769.
-
The Scots Magazine for June, 1769, reports that
'John
and James Sword, merchants in Glasgow indicted for a rape, committed on
the body of Janet Orr, spouse to William Brown, Bookseller in Glasgow
were, after a trial which lasted ten hours, found not guilty by the jury and
assoilzied'. It was said that Brown and his wife had instigated the matter to
extort money. (S.M., June, 1769, p. 332.)
BRUCE (JOHN), merchant in Aberdeen, printer and bookseller,
1768-1769.
- Bruce had a short-lived partnership with John Boyle, printer and
paper maker in Aberdeen. In 1768 they published together The
Works
of Josephus, and in 1769 they issued together from 'their Printing
Office in the Broadgate', The Works of Willison. But the
partnership ended some time before 16 October, 1769, when it was
advertised in The Aberdeen Journal that 'the co-partnership
in
the printing trade between Bruce and Boyle hath for some time past been
dissolved, and is now wholly carried on by John Boyle. . .'. (A.J., May
30, 1768; 16 October, 1769; A.B.L., V, 36-38.)
BRYCE (PATRICK), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1743-1757.
- Patrick Bryce is found listed in The Caledonian
Mercury as a bookseller stocking the following work: A
Review
of the Preface to the Narrative of the extraordinary Work at Kilsyth. . . .
By James Fisher, Minister of the Gospel in the Associate
Congregation. Bryce is not included in Ewing's list. He was made
a
Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow on 8 Feb, 1759, by right of his
father, Patrick Bryce, Hammerman. (C.M., Jan., 1743; B. & G.B.
1751-1846, p. 22.)
BUCHANAN (DAVID), bookseller in Montrose, 1774-.
- This very well known Scottish bookseller of the latter part of the
century was in business in 1774 and thus should be included in the
supplement. He stocked Coke's Catalogue in 1774. (C.M., May 21,
1774.)
BUIST (D.), bookseller in Perth, 1747.
- Buist is one of the many booksellers listed in the imprint of
The Acts and Proceedings of Associate Synod in April, 1747,
Edinburgh: Printed by William Gray, for Andrew Stevenson: and sold by
the said W. Gray, and by G. Crawford in Edinburgh, D. Buist in Perth, T.
Lundin in Glasgow, J. Nimmo in Kilmarnock, W. Henderson in
Dunfermline, J. Henderson in Abernethy, W. Marshal in Home, J. Kerr in
Selkirk, and other Booksellers
in Town and Country, MDCCXLVII. (Copy of pamphlet. St.
A.U.L.; A.U.L.)
BURNETT (JAMES), bookseller and bookbinder in Aberdeen,
1769-1775 (1805?)
- Middle of the Lodge Wall, 1769; Foot of the Lodge Wall, 1775.
According to advertisements in The Aberdeen Journal,
Burnett
bound books, sold books and issued catalogues in the period 1769-1775. He
was in business after that date and may be the Aberdeen bookseller, J.
Burnett, who sold Francis Peacock's Practice of Dancing, in
1805. (A.J., Dec. 25, 1769; Sept 25, 1775. A.B.L. IV, no.
4,
p. 96.)
CHALMERS (------), bookseller in Dumfries,
1771-1773.
- This Chalmers was in partnership with A. McLauchlan, (see later
entry) and bought sets in 1772 of Ruddiman's Weekly
Magazine. The last date connected with his name in the accountbook
is February 2nd, 1773. (La. III, 752)
CHALMERS (ROBERT), bookbinder, bookseller and stationer in
Aberdeen, 1764-1775. In the Narrow-Wynd, 1764-1766. In the Broadgate
opposite to Mr John Dyce's, 1767-.
- There are many entries in The Aberdeen Journal
concerning Robert Chalmers. He is described in April, 1764, as a
bookbinder and his change of address to the Broadgate is given in
December, 1766, when he is said to bind books 'in the neatest manner and
at the lowest prices' and to sell stationery. He seems to have published a
number of books in partnership with John Mennye, including The
Works of Willison. This book was printed in numbers and must
have
had a large sale, for the advertisements state that the first three numbers
had to be reprinted. Mennye and Chalmers also issued proposals for
printing by subscription The Sermons of the late Reverend Alexander
Howie in 1769. The partnership apparently ended in 1769 for both
Chalmers and Mennye published books on their own in 1770 (cf. Bushnell,
p. 332).
- There is evidence of financial trouble in the years 1771 and 1772,
for in November, 1771, John Boyle issued catalogues of a list of books to
be sold in the shop lately possessed by Robert Chalmers, a little below the
well in the head of the Broadgate, and on 8th March, 1772, there was a
meeting of the creditors of Robert Chalmers. He seems to have survived in
business after this event, for we find him issuing catalogues of books to be
sold from an address 'opposite the Broadgate well' in December, 1773, and
October, 1775. (A.J., April 2, 1764; Dec 29, 1766; Oct 23, 1769; Dec 4,
1769; July 16, 1770; Nov 4, 1771; Feb 10, 1772; Dec 27, 1773; Oct 16,
1775.)
CHAPMAN (JOHN) JUNIOR, publisher in Edinburgh,
1765-1769.
- John Chapman, Junior, was the publisher of The Universal
Scots Almanack from 1765 to 1769. This useful almanack was
printed for him by
Walter Ruddiman and John Richardson and was sold by the author at the
following addresses: 1765, at his House, 4th storey of Cleghorn's Land,
Grassmarket; 1769. 1st storey of the Shoemaker's Land, South Side of
Alison's Square, Potterrow. (E.U.L. has copies of these
almanacks.)
CHAPMAN (MRS ----), widow of John Chapman, Senior,
Publisher in Edinburgh, 1754-1764.
- Mrs Chapman sold The Universal Scots Almanack
from 1754 to 1764. The date of her husband's death is unknown. In 1761
she sold the Almanack 'at her house 3rd storey of Cleghorn's Land,
Grassmarket', but in 1764 she was selling it from her house on the 4th
storey of Cleghorn's Land. (E.U.L.)
CHISHOLM (------), bookseller in Edinburgh,
1756-1760.
- Chisholm is listed in the book lists of The Scots
Magazine for February, 1760, as selling Notes on Scripture
Texts . . . . By John Glas. I have not found his name elsewhere
than
in The Scots Magazine. (S.M., Feb., 1760; April,
1756.)
COCK (DANIEL), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1748.
- Cock's name is found on the title page of the following work
The New Constitution of pretended Synod, which first met at Mr
Gib's house, April 10, 1747 unmasked . . . Glasgow: Daniel
Cock 1748; not listed in Ewing. (A.U.L. pamphlets. K.
282)
COCKBURN (------), bookseller, Kelso, 1749.
- Cockburn is listed in The Caledonian Mercury as
one
of the many Scottish Provincial Booksellers stocking The Newcastle
General Magazine for 1749. (C.M., Feb. 14, 1749.)
COLVILLE (ROBERT), stationer in Glasgow, 1765.
- Robert Colville, stationer, was made a Burgess and Guild Brother
of Glasgow on 14th June, 1765, as having served an apprenticeship with
James Robb, stationer. (B. & G.B. Glasgow, 1751-1846, p.
51)
COUTTS (W.), merchant and bookseller in Aberdeen,
1775.
- The anonymous writer of an article on Aberdeen's early
booksellers in the trade periodical called Brown's Bookstall
lists
W. Coutts amongst a number of Aberdeen booksellers who had books
printed for them and at whose shops they were to be sold. I have not
personally examined any book which had Coutts's name in the imprint.
(B.B. Vol. I, no. 7, July, 1892.)
CUNNINGHAM (WILLIAM), bookseller in Haddington,
1772-1773.
- Cunningham bought sets of Ruddiman's Weekly
Magazine throughout 1772. The last date attached to his name in the
account book is February, 1773. (La. III, 752)
DAES (ALEXANDER), papermaker at Dalry before 1679 and
after 1681.
- Waterston gives a short account of Daes's interrupted career as a
papermaker, and of his short essay into showmanship. (Waterston O.E.C.,
XXVII, 41-42.)
DOWS (WILLIAM AND ANTHONY), booksellers in Cullen,
1773.
- These two names are listed amongst the booksellers of the North
East of Scotland who stocked the periodical The Scots
Farmer.
(A.J., Oct. 2, 1773.; Nov. 15, 1773)
DRYSDALE (THOMAS), bookbinder in Dunfermline,
1759.
- The only recorded fact concerning this bookbinder is that of his
death. John Marshall, Carrier in Auchtermuchty, was tried for the murder
of Thomas Drysdale, bookbinder, in Dunfermline on March 13, 1759, 'by
assaulting him when intoxicated with liquor, at or near the bridge of Gourly
and drowning him in a pond, or strangling him with a handkerchief which
he wore about his neck'. The charge was found not proven and Marshall
was freed. (S.M., Sept., 1759, pp. 493-494.)
teDUNCAN (------), Baillie in Kilmarnock, 1718.
- Duncan is named in the imprint of The History of the Late
Rebellion which was printed by Robert Rae at Dumfries in 1718 and
sold by Baillie Duncan in Kilmarnock. (Copy St. A.U.L.)
DUNCAN (ALEXANDER), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1767-1797(?).
- Duncan was printing in Glasgow, according to Ewing, under the
title Alexander Duncan and Company from 1767 to 1772. In 1768 he
published John Witherspoon's Sermons on Practical Subjects,
and in 1770, an edition of Scripture Songs: or Translations and
Paraphrases of several Passages of Sacred Scripture. In 1774
Duncan
was apparently printing on his own, for he published in that year The
A. B. C. With the Shorter Catchism. Whether or not he was in fact
on his own at this time, there is no doubt that he had a partner in the
following years. From 1775 to 1788 he published with Robert Chapman the
elder who died in 1788 (Ewing). Within this period he published in 1775
the Reverend John Willison's A Sacramental Catechism. . .
.,
and in 1777 A Chronological Index of the most Remarkable Events
and Persons recorded in Ancient and Modern History. Again,
according to Ewing, one Alexander Duncan and Robert Chapman Junior
were printing together in the
period 1790 to 1795, while J. and A. Duncan printed at least two books in
partnership in the period 1796 to 1797. An Alexander Duncan, printer and
bookseller, was made Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow on 12th April,
1777 as having served an apprenticeship with Mr. Robert Foulis, deceased,
barber. All these facts probably concern the same man, or possibly two
men of the same name. (B & G.B. 1751 to 1846, p. 104; Old
Glasgow,
pp. 377-378.)
DUNCAN (JOHN), bookbinder and bookseller in Glasgow,
1754(?)-1770.
- A John Duncan appears on the imprint of a work called
Heaven upon Earth; or the History of the Transfiguration of Jesus
Christ. . . . This book was printed in partnership with James
Duncan
in 1754. This may be the same man as the John Duncan, bookbinder, who
was made a Burgess and
Guild Brother of Glasgow on 10th September, 1770, as having served an
apprenticeship with Robert and Andrew Foulis, printers. It is possible that
two John Duncans are involved. (B. & G.B. 1751 to 1846, p. 70; Old
Glasgow p. 376.)
DUNCAN (ROBERT), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1768-1785.
- In 1768, The Works of the Pious, Reverend, and learn'd
Mr
Hugh Binning, Late Minister of the Gospel at Govan was printed in
Glasgow for James Robb and Robert Duncan. The latter was admitted
Burgess and Guild Brother of Glasgow on 31st July 1769 as a bookseller
by right of his father the deceased William Duncan, bookbinder (Bushnell,
p. 303).
- Ewing gives Duncan as a printer in 1769 and 1784-1785. He is
presumably the same Robert Duncan who was in partnership with Thomas
Duncan in the years 1770 to 1784. In 1770 they printed Thomas Boston's
A View of the Covenant of Grace from the Sacred Records
and
in 1784 Roman Stories: or, the History of the Seven Wise Masters
of
Rome. The Thirty-third Edition. (St. A.U.L.; B.
&
G.B. 1751-1846, p. 63; Old Glasgow p. 378.)
DUNCAN (THOMAS), printer and bookseller in Glasgow,
1770-1784.
- All that is known of the activities of this member of the Duncan
family can be found in the entry for Robert Duncan. In 1772 an edition of
Allan Ramsay's The Gentle Shepherd was printed in Glasgow
and sold by R. and T. Duncan. (R.G.B.S. X, 61.)
DUNLOP AND WILSON, booksellers in Glasgow,
1773-1776.
- Advertisements can be found in The Caledonian
Mercury for the period 1773 to 1776, naming Dunlop and Wilson
as
selling a number of Edinburgh books. Typical of these is The
Memoirs of the Life, Time and Writings of the Reverend and Learned
Thomas Boston A. M. printed by Murray and Cochran of
Edinburgh.
(E.E.C., April 17, 1776; C.M., Oct. 2, 1774; C.M., Dec. 29,
1773.)
DUPYNE (NICHOLAS), papermaker near Edinburgh 1694-
.
- Dupyne floated the Scots Paper Company about 1694. He started
paper mills at Yester, East Lothian and at Braid, near Edinburgh. The mills
were still making paper in 1703. (Waterston O.E.C., XXV,
46-69.)
EDWARD (ROBERT), bookseller(?) in Edinburgh,
1692.
- Edward's name is found in the imprint of the following work:
Phalainologia Nova sive Observationes de rarioribus quibusdam
Balaenis in Scotiae Littus nuper ejectis. . . . . Edinburge; Typis Joannis
Redi. MDCXCII. Vaeneunt apud M. Robertum
Edward, verbi divini Ministrum, in vice dicto the Bishop's Land
Closs. A Robert Edward, minister at Murroes and citizen of Dundee
published a Latin Description of Angus in 1678. (St. Paul's Cathedral
Dundee. Vestry Library.)
ELLIOTT (GEORGE), bookseller in Kelso, 1773-1776.
- Elliott often appears as a bookseller in advertisements in the
Edinburgh newspapers for the period 1773 to 1776. In 1776 he sold
The Memoirs of
Thomas Boston, printed by Murray and Cochran and in 1773 he was
listed as stocking The Scots Farmer. (E.E.C., April 17,
1776;
C.M., Feb. 13, 1775; Mar. 26, 1774; Jan. 30, 1773.)
FERRIER (JOHN), bookbinder in Aberdeen, 1758.
- Our sole notice of John Ferrier is found in a newspaper
advertisement. This advertisement points out that Mr Richard Smith had
succeeded Bartholomew Smith as a papermaker at Culter sometime in 1758.
It also states that Smith was prepared to give ready money for rags 'at the
house of John Ferrier, bookbinder, Aberdeen.' (A.J., Oct. 10,
1758.)
FORBES (ROBERT), printer in Aberdeen(?), previous to
1746.
- This man is named as a printer in the magazine accounts of the
trials of the Jacobite Rebels at Carlisle in 1746. Amongst those who pled
guilty when brought to be tried and were sentenced to be executed was one
Robert Forbes, printer. It seems not unlikely that he was a member of the
Forbes family at Aberdeen. (S.M., Sept. 1746, VIII, 438.)
FORSYTH (ALEXANDER), bookseller in Ayr,
1770-1773.
- Forsyth bought sets of Ruddiman's Weekly
Magazine
from 1770 to 1772. The last date attached to his name in the account book
is March 25, 1772. Two Discourses, by William Dalrymple
were advertised in May, 1773, as being printed for and sold by A. Forsyth,
bookseller, Ayr, and by J. Meuros, bookseller, Kilmarnock. Alexander
Forsyth was probably related to James Forsyth, bookbinder in Edinburgh,
for in the same advertisement, the Edinburgh bookbinder is named as an
agent for this book (cf. Bushnell, p. 307). (C.M., May 22, 1773; La. III,
752.)
FORSYTH (L.), bookseller in Edinburgh, 1775.
- A number of booksellers advertised the fact in September, 1775,
that they were selling The Decisions of the Court of Session to
1764. Amongst these booksellers was one L. Forsyth. (C.M., Sept.
2, 1775.)
FRASER (ALEXANDER), papermaker at Polton,
1768-1772.
- Fraser was manager of a small paper mill belonging to Adrian
Watkins, His Majesty's Printer for Scotland. Because of this experience he
was placed in charge of the large five vat paper mill at Polton. The Polton
Paper-Mill Company became bankrupt in 1772, and the inefficient Fraser
was discharged. The Polton Paper-Mill had a warehouse at the Royal
Exchange, Edinburgh and Fraser was also in charge of this in 1771. (C.M.,
May 11, 1771; Waterston O.E.C. XXVII, 57-58.)
FRASER (JOHN), running stationer in Edinburgh,
1754.
- We know of Fraser's existence through the account of a trial in
The Scots Magazine. George Johnston, running stationer in
Edinburgh, and Andrew Mason, servant to Captain Robert Merry, were
tried for hamesucken. It is noticed that two accomplices, one of whom was
John Fraser, running stationer in Edinburgh, were fugitate. The trial was
on 9th December, 1754. (S.M., Dec., 1754, p. 592.)
GALBRAITH (JOHN), printer in Glasgow, 1771-1773.
- Nothing has been discovered about this printer. Ewing lists him as
having been in business in Glasgow from 1771-1773.
GILMOUR (WILLIAM), bookseller in Glasgow,
1768-1771.
- This young bookseller who died in January, 1771, was a partner
with his father in publishing The Glasgow Weekly Chronicle.
Gilmour published a number of books in partnership with W. Bell,
including Thomas Boston's Select Discourses on a Variety of
Practical
Subjects in 1768. (Old Glasgow, pp. 394-395.)
GLAS (JOHN), bookseller and divine; bookseller in Dundee,
1740-1744.
- This is the well known founder of the Glasite Church. He was
born in 1695, and in 1728 moved to Dundee after being deposed from his
charge at Tealing. He moved to Perth in 1733 but seems to have come back
to Dundee. He is specifically described as a bookseller in a number of
advertisements in The Caledonian Mercury, and probably
established the business carried on by his son Thomas (cf. Bushnell, p.
311). (C.M., Dec. 12, 1743; Jan 31, 1744; E.E.C., April 21,
1740.)
GRANT (WILLIAM), merchant and bookseller in Elgin,
1757.
- Grant, who is described in advertisements as a merchant in Elgin,
sold, both in weekly numbers at 3d. each and in volumes, a work entitled
Illustrations of Holy Scriptures. (A. J., July 12,
1757.)
GRAY (G or GEORGE?), bookseller in Edinburgh, 1760-1763
(1801?)
- In January 1760, George Gray, merchant in the Parliament house,
is listed in The Caledonian Mercury as one of twenty
Edinburgh
booksellers stocking The British Magazine. In 1763 his name
appears on the title page of Les Avantures de Telemaque, Fils
d'Ulysse par feu Messire Francois de Salignac de la Mothe Fenelon. . . .
A Edimbourg: De l'imprimerie de J. Bruce et Societe: et se vend chez A.
Kincaid & J. Bell, J. Brown, G. Gray et J. Wood.
MDCCLXIII
(Copy A.U.L.). The creditors of one George Gray, bookseller in
Edinburgh, met on 12th. June, 1801, to consider an offer of composition
of 15/- in the £. This may be the same man. (C. M., Jan. 9, 1760;
D.W.A., May 8, 1801.)
GRIERSON (J.), bookseller in Dumfries, 1745-1749.
- In July, 1749, Grierson is named as one of the provincial
booksellers holding proposals for an edition of Bp. Burnet's
Exposition of the Thirty-nine Articles, while in October,
1749,
he was also receiving subscriptions for an edition of The Whole
Works of Flavius Josephus published by R. Fleming, Edinburgh.
Subscriptions are taken in by the Booksellers of Edinburgh and Glasgow
and by R. Fleming, the publisher, second shop below the Laigh
Coffeehouse, Edinburgh, at Aberdeen by A. Thomson, and R. Farquhar;
at Perth by R. Morison; at Dundee by T. Glas; at Stirling by
J. Jeffries; at Dumfries by J. Grierson and at Irvine by G. Leechman.
(C.M., July 18, 1745; Feb. 14, 1749; Oct 5, 1749.)
GUTHRIE (------), bookseller in Dundee, 1744.
-
A Defence of the Communion Office of the Church of
England was sold by the booksellers of Edinburgh, Mr. Guthrie,
Dundee, and Mr. Angus in Aberdeen in September, 1744. (C.M., Sept. 4,
1744.)
HALLY (WILLIAM), glazier and bookbinder in Perth,
1769-1802.
- Hally was admitted freeman to the Wright calling on 6 Jan., 1769.
He is said to have died in September, 1802. He served his apprenticeship
with John Bisset, bookbinder in Perth (cf. Bushnell, p. 284). (Bibliotheck,
I, no. 4, p. 33.)
HAMILTON (JAMES) of Little Earnock, papermaker at
Restalrig, 1691-1693.
- Hamilton was also a printer of playing cards and the cards were
'printed, made, and to be sold by James Hamilton at his house on the South
side of the head of the Canongate a little above St. John's Cross, 1691.'
Hamilton's mill at Restalrig was on a little stream called 'The River of
Tumble.' Hamilton was still in business in 1693. (Waterston O.E.C., XXV,
70; XXVII, 43.).
HAMILTON (JOHN), printer in Edinburgh, 1767.
- John Hamilton, printer, was the publisher of a work to be printed
by subscription called A Companion for the Festivals and Feasts of
the
Church of England by Robert Nelson. Subscriptions were taken in
by
John Hamilton, printer, at the foot of Burnet's Close. (A.J., May 18
1767).
HAMILTON (WILLIAM), papermaker at Penicuik,
1716.
- William Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton of Little
Earnock. This Hamilton made paper at Penicuik from 1716. He acquired
the mill from his famous grandmother, Mrs Agnes Campbell or Anderson.
Hamilton was later a papermaker at Redhall Mill in Colinton. (Waterston
O.E.C., XXV, 70; XXVII, 50.)
HENDERSON (J.), bookseller in Abernethy, 1747.
- It seems unlikely that J. Henderson gained his living only from
bookselling in such a small town as Abernethy, but he is named in the
imprint of The Acts and Proceedings of the Associate Synod
as
one of the many stockists of this work in small Scottish towns. (St A.U.L.;
A.U.L.)
HENDERSON (ROBERT), warehousekeeper to the White Paper
Company of Scotland, 1699-1703.
- Henderson signed on 29 July, 1699, an obligation to the tacksmen
of the White Paper Company as being accountable as store and
warehousekeeper to the company. On 8 May, 1703, Henderson signed
another obligation undertaking to account for his intromissions. He had
been imprisoned
in the Tolbooth, Edinburgh, 'for aledged imbazelling the effects belonging
to the said manufactory,' and was released by his employers. (Waterston
O.E.C., XXV, 66-67.)
HENDERSON (W.), bookseller in Dunfermline, 1747.
- The sole fact known concerning this man is that he sold The
Acts and Proceedings of the Associate Synod in 1747. (St. A.U.L.;
A.U.L.)
HOME (ARCHIBALD), papermaker in Dalry, 1675.
- Home's name is given by Waterston in his invaluable list.
(Waterston O.E.C., XXV, 70.)
HUME (D.), bookseller in Glasgow, 1760.
- I have found no other reference to this bookseller except the fact
that he is named in The Caledonian Mercury in January,
1760,
as one of the Scottish booksellers selling The British Magazine or
Monthly Repository for Gentlemen and Ladies. (C.M., Jan. 9,
1760.)
HUNTER (G.), printer and bookseller in Paisley, 1772.
- Hunter's name is found in 1772 in the imprint of a work entitled
A Cry from the Dead, or, The Ghost of the Famous Mr. James
Guthrie Appearing. . . . (cf. J. H. Baxter, A
Bibliography of St. Andrews, (St Andrews [1924], no.
494).
HUTCHESON (------) or HUTCHINSON, bookseller in
Greenock, 1749-1751.
- Hutchison is named as one of the booksellers stocking The
New Practice of Piety, a London publication, in The
Caledonian
Mercury in July, 1749. In 1751 he is specifically named as a
bookseller in several advertisements for Dr. Anderson's Original Pills and
Lozenges. (C.M., July 31, 1749; Feb. 10, 1751; April 2, 1751.)
IMLACH (JAMES), bookseller and stationer in Banff,
1770-1773.
- In September, 1770, James Imlach and James Smith, Merchants
in Banff, advertised that they had engaged a bookbinder to supply the
binding needs of their customers. They also reveal that they sold books and
stationery, and had a circulating library in which there were 'a large
assortment of curious and entertaining Books . . . which are lent out by the
Year, Half Year, or Quarter.' It is also clear from the files of The
Aberdeen Journal that Imlach had book auctions in March, 1773,
and
sold The Aberdeen Almanack. (A.J., March 15, 1773; Jan.
4,
1773; Sept. 17, 1770.)
[To be continued.]
Notes
[1]
H. R. Plomer, A Dictionary of the
Printers
and Booksellers who were at work in England Scotland and Ireland from
1668 to 1725 (1922); and A Dictionary of the Printers and
Booksellers who were at work in England Scotland and Ireland from 1726
to 1775. These in Scotland by G. H. Bushnell (1932).
[2]
R. H. Carnie and R. P. Doig, "Scottish Printers
and Booksellers 1668-1775: A Supplement," Studies in
Bibliography (1959), XII, 131-159.
[3]
The locus of the copy of all books or pamphlets
examined is given in brackets at the end of each entry.
[4]
I am indebted to Edinburgh University Library
and to Mr. C. P. Finlayson, Keeper of the MSS there, for a microfilm of
this account book, and for permission to use it here. A full account of
Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine can be found in W. J. Couper,
The Edinburgh Periodical Press, (Stirling, 1908), II,
114-122.
[5]
R. H. Carnie, "Perth Booksellers and
Bookbinders in the Records of the Wright Calling 1538-1864," The
Bibliotheck, I, no. 4. pp. 24-39.
[6]
This manuscript book is now in the possession
of St. Andrews University Library, and I am indebted to Mr G. H.
Bushnell, the Librarian, for permission to quote from it in this
article.
[7]
I am indebted to Mr R. N. Smart, the Assistant
Keeper of the Muniments, St. Andrews University for his help in using
these papers.
[8]
The file of The Caledonian
Mercury
used was that in the National Library of Scotland. It was occasionally
supplemented by odd numbers of The Edinburgh Evening
Courant. The file of The Aberdeen Journal used was
that
in Aberdeen University Library. I am indebted to Mr. H. J. H. Drummond,
the deputy Librarian, for allowing me access to this file, for photostats of
certain books in the University Library and for lending me his own notes
of some additions to Plomer and Bushnell. I am also indebted to Mr R. C.
Rider of Queen's College Library for his help with access to books in St.
Paul's Cathedral, Dundee.
[9]
E.g. The Works of that eminent servant
of
Christ, Mr. John Bunyan. . . . The Fourth Edition In Six Volumes. . . .
Edinburgh: Printed by Sands, Murray and Cochran. For
David
Ogilvy, Dundee. MDCCLXIX.
[10]
They occasionally do. E.g. The
Life,
surprising adventures and heroic Actions of Sir William Wallace. .
.
. a new edition. Printed for John Gillies Bookbinder, High
Street, Perth 1774.