William London (fl. 1658) was an English bookseller and bibliographer of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is best known for his Catalogue of the most Vendible Books in England of 1657.[1]

Life

Besides running a bookshop and selling other supplies, London published in partnership with London firms. One book of his was Charles Hoole, Phraseologia Anglo-Latina (1655), imprint "London, printed by E. Coles for William London, bookseller, Newcastle".[1][2]

Catalogue

The full title of London's English bibliography was A Catalogue of the most vendible Books in England orderly and alphabetically digested … the like Work never yet performed by any. Varietas Delectat, London, 1658. London arranged his titles under headings: Divinity, History, Physic and Chirurgerie, Law, Romances, Poems, Plays, Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. A supplement of new books issued between August 1657 and June 1658 was appended. In 1660 he brought out A Catalogue of New Books by way of Supplement to the former, being such as have been printed from that time till Easter Term, 1660, London, 31 May 1660.[2] There had been earlier book lists in England, but one way in which London innovated was by including titles at full length. He listed about 4,500 works.[1]

In 1663 Francis Hawkins issued a new edition of his Youths Behaviour, with a glossary entry "Catalogue: a roule of names, or register, a cataloging of Books which Mr. London, bookseller of Newcastle, hath published." [2]

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Smolenaars, Marja. "London, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/16958. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. 1 2 3 Lee, Sidney, ed. (1893). "London, William" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 34. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1893). "London, William". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 34. London: Smith, Elder & Co.

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