The Earliest Directory of the Book Trade (1785) Edited with an Introduction and an Appendix by Graham Pollard

Bibliographical Society, London, first edition, 1955. Printed wrappers, small 4to, 23 cm,. xxiii, [1], 90, [1] pp. Pendred's Directory, "The London and Country Printers', Booksellers' and Stationers' Vade Mecum", which is reprinted here with an informative introduction and additional material, included sections on: Letterpress printers; Letter-founders, &c.; Engravers, &c.; Copper-plate makers, &c.; Stationers, Bookbinders, Booksellers, &c; Goldbeaters, &c; Provincial Printers, Booksellers, &c; Irish Letterpress Printers; London Morning Newspapers; London Evening Newspapers; London Weekly Newspapers; London Sunday Morning Newspapers;Country Newspapers; Scotch Newspapers. Pollard's Appendix includes material noting other sources under the following heads: A. Liverymen of the Stationers' Company; B. Master Printers; C. Journeymen Printers and Compositors; D. Masters and Journeymen Bookbinders; E. Booksellers; F. Paper-mills; G. Book-trade Directories; H. General Directories; I. London Trade Directories. From a contemporary review: "[The Directory]provides a rich mine of information about the sources indispensable to any inquirer into the personnel of the book trade after 1785. Pendred's book, of which only one copy is known, includes besides printers, booksellers and bookbinders, members of connected trades such as typefounding, ink making paper hanging and selling, and covers London and the principal towns in England, Scotland and Wales. It has also a list of the Master Printers of Ireland and one of London and country newspapers....[Polard's] introduction gives an entertaining account of Pendred himself (he was a journeyman compositor and the author of some doggerel verse) and a critical account of his methods. ..The volume concludes with an Appendix containing a detailed and exhaustive list of documents and books on which future research must be based, with locations of copies of all of them. Not for the first time, one is left astonished at and grateful for the range of Mr Pollard's knowledge. This Appendix ends with an outline of the chief topographical directories containing trade lists." Supplement No. 14 to the Transactions of the Bibliographical Society. Yapp edges creased and slightly chipped and browned, otherwise a Very Good unopened copy.