London Booksellers
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Ebenezer Tracy. A discourse on Balsam de Chili in
Curing Most Diseases in Human Bodies (London, 1696) ...Charles Tias, who had young Thomas Passinger as his apprentice.
Thomas Passinger was due to be freed in 1665, but Tias died in 1664 and
Passinger married his widow, Sarah, and so acquired his stock. He continued
to trade as the 'Three Bibles' on London Bridge, as Tias had done. He and the
young William Thackeray...[partners]... Margaret Spufford (1895)
Small Books and Pleasant Histories:... The Booksellers Of London
Bridge And Their Dwellings. In 1669 we find the northern part of the bridge rebuilt, though on a
smaller scale. The following are the booksellers who appear in this, the
concluding portion of their appearance on the bridge :— 2. Thos. Passinger
(or Passenger), at the Three Bibles, about the middle of London Bridge,
1668-1687, succeeded by Eben. Tracey, whom we find there [1694]1696-1712; H.
Tracey, 1719-1722; and H. and J. Tracey in 1724. This is, no doubt, a revival
of Tyus's sign of the Three Bibles. 1700-1750 London Booksellers And Publishers Ebenezer Tracy There were two bookshops on London Bridge displaying the sign of the
Three Bibles. The Tracys' was at the south end of the bridge "next the
Gate" formerly occupied by N. Gamage, C. Tyersand T. Passinger. The
other shop was in the centre of the bridge " at the corner of the Square
" occupied (c 1690—c. 1740) by John Stuart. Ebenezer Tracy
followed Thomas Passinger II in 1695. Dr. Wood gives the authority of Plomer
for saying that Tracy died in 1719, but Plomer does not make this statement.
The date of Tracy's death is somewhat uncertain. An entry in the
Churchwarden's Accounts of St. Magnus Church, dated 8 June, 1717, is for
"the buriall of Mr. Tracey in the Church " but it has been doubted
whether this could have been Ebenezer because his imprints are found up to
1719. An explanation may be that the name was carried on for the sake of the
good will attached to it. It is significant, also, that imprints of H. Tracy
(see below) begin to appear after 1717. Another pointer is the fact that E.
Tracy published fifteen editions of 'Cocker's AritJimetick' from 1696 onwards
until the 34th edition in 1716, but the next edition (the 35th) was published
by H. Tracy in 1718. It seems likely therefore that the "Mr. Tracy,"
buried in 1717, was Ebenezer Tracy. H. and J. Tracy. Dr. Wood repeats Plomer's statement that "Ebenezer Tracy was
succeeded by his sons H. and J. Tracey." I doubt whether this is
entirely correct. I think that H. sometimes stood for Hannah, his widow, for
I find an advertisement in her name regarding the sale of the famous Balsam
of Chili made by Mr. Eben. Tracy, bookseller at the Three Bibles on London
Bridge this 30 years last past but, since his decease, Mr. John Stuart [q.v.]
stationer, at the Three Bibles and Ink Bottles at the corner of the
Square on London Bridge, has made a sham sort. . . . The right sort is only
to be had of Hannah Tracy at the Three Bibles on London Bridge. Henry Tracy, the younger son of Ebenezer, issued a somewhat similar
advertisement in 1724. H. Tracy was solely responsible for the publication of
all editions of ' Cocker's Arithmetick ' between 1718 and 1725, except the
39th edition (1722) and the 41st (1724), both of which bear the imprint of H.
and J. Tracy. Subsequent editions up to 1731 were published by E. Midwinter.
No imprints of H., or of H. and J. Tracey have been found later than 1725,
but the sale of the famous Balsam of Chili was being carried on "at the
Sun and Hour Glass, a few doors further on the Bridge," by the elder son,
John, in 1727 December 24, 1720.
Weekly Journal Just published, the two following Books, Arithmetick in the plainest and most concise Methods
hitherto extant with new Improvements for Dispatch of Business, in all the
several Rules; as also Fractions, Vulgar and Decimal wrought together. It
after a new Method but renders both easy to be understood in their a Nature
and Use; the whole perused and approved of by the most eminent Accomptants in
the several Offices of the Revenues, viz. Custom-House, Excise, and is the
only Book of its Kind for Variety of Rules, and Brevity of Work. By Geo. Fisher, Accomptant. Price
Calf 2s 6d. Sheep roll'd 2s. |
Cockers
arithmetick:...Licensed Sept. 3. 1677. Roger L' Estrange. London Printed, for T. Passinger at the three Bibles on London-Bridge, and T. Lacy at the Golden Lyon in Southwark. And sold by C. Passinger, at the 7 Stars in the New-Buildings upon London-Bridge. 1678. Books sold by Thomas Passinger at the three Bibles
on London-bridg. Books printed for, and sold by Charles Passinger
at the seven Stars in the new buildings on London-bridg.
Cocker's arithmetick:...London:
Printed by W. Richardson for Eben. Tracey at the Three Bibles on
London-Bridge 1702
Cocker's arithmetick:...London:
Printed for H. Tracy, at the Three Bibles on London-Bridge 1719 |
September 19, 1730
The County Journal or Craftsman
THERE is brought from CHILI, a Province in America, a
most excellent Balsam, found by several eminent Persons to excel that of Peru and
Tolu, in curing of most Diseases in human Bodies; particularly it helps all
Pains coming from Cold, chiefly Pains in the Stomach, want of Appetite,
corroborating and strengthening the whole Body. 'Tis a wonderful Remedy for all
inward Sores, Bruises, Ulcers of the Lungs, Reigns, Bladder or Womb, and it
helps Shortness of Breath, Coughs, Consumptions, or Wheesings; 'tis good in
most Diseases, in the Head, strengthens the Brain and Nerves; it kills the
Worms, 'tis excellent in all Asthmatical Distempers, provokes Urine, and is
good against the Stone; it helps all Fluxes of the Belly, is excellent in all
Diseases of the Ears, especially Deafness; it cures all manner of Green Wounds
and many other Distempers, which may be seen at large in the printed Bills of
Directions.- All Persons are desired to beware of a pretended Balsam sold in
this Neighbourhood in Imitation of this approved One, which since the Death of my Son John Tracy, is only sold by
me Hannah Tracy, at the Three Bibles, a Fan-Shop on London-Bridge.
N.B. A very good Allowance will be made to those who
sell it again.
London
Shop-Signs.
Sun & Hour-Glass. John Tracy, bookseller, who also sold the
Original Balsam of Chili, on London Bridge.
(Mist's Weekly
Journal, 11 Nov., 1727)
A descriptive catalogue of the London
traders, tavern, and coffee-house (1853)
London Bridge.
636 At the 3 Bibles
on - C. S. T., in the field.
Rev. London
Bridge—Three
bibles, from the Stationers' arms.
London Bridge
745 At the 3 Bibles on "
Rev. London Bridge " In the field, three bibles.
Tokens issued by booksellers are of the utmost rarity. The
Wise Merchant, or the Peerless Pearl, by Thomas
The same sign
appears to be alluded to in a later notice. The sixth edition of Love's Mariner's
Jewel, printed in 1724, has advertised at the end, "the right sort of
the Balsam of Chili, to be had of Henry Tracy, at
the Three Bibles on London Bridge, at 1s.6d. a
bottle, where it hath been sold these forty years." The earlier editions
of the same work had, possibly, the same announcement, to which is annexed the
caution, "all persons are desired to beware of a pretended Balsam of
Chili, which for about these seven years last past hath been sold and continues
to be sold, by Mr. John Stuart, at the Old Three
Bibles, as he calls his sign, although mine was the sign of the Three Bibles twenty years before his. This pretended
balsam sold by Mr. Stuart resembles the true balsam in colour, and is put up in
the same bottles; but has been found to differ exceedingly from the true sort
by several persons, who, through the carelessness of the buyers entrusted, have
gone to the wrong place. Therefore all persons who send should give strict
order to enquire for the name of Tracy; for, Mr.
Stuart's being the very same sign, it is an easy matter to mistake. All other
pretended Balsams of Chili, sold elsewhere, are shams and impositions, which
may not only be ineffectual, but prove of worse consequence."
The probate inventory of the stock of Charles Tias, of The sign of the Three Bibles on London Bridge, in 1664 included books and printed sheets to make c.90,000 chapbooks (inc. 400 reams of paper) and 37,500 ballad sheets. Tias was not regarded as an outstanding figure in the trade.
Passinger (Thomas), bookseller
in London; Three Bibles on London Bridge, 1664-88. Son of Thomas Passinger, of
Guildford, co. Surrey. Apprentice to Charles Tyas, or Tyus, bookseller at the
Three Bibles on London Bridge for eight years from July islh, 1657. [Register
of Apprenticeships, Stationers' Hall, 1606-66.] On the death of Tyas in 1664,
Passinger appears to have succeeded to the business, probably by marrying the
widow. He died in 1688 and his will was proved in the Prerogative Court of
Canterbury. He left to his kinsman, Thomas Passinger, all his copies and parts
of copies and copperplates, as well as his share of books and ballads which he
had in partnership with William Thackerye of Pye Comer. He left a bequest of
forty shillings to the Company of Stationers and a book of the value of forty shillings
to the public library at Guildford. [p.cc. 8j, Exton.]
Tyus (Charles), bookseller
in London ; Three Bibles on London Bridge, 1656-64. Dealt in ballads, chap
books, and miscellaneous literature. Succeeded by his widow, Sarah Tyus.
Tyus (Sarah), bookseller
in London; Three Bibles on London Bridge, 1665. Widow of Charles Tyus. This
house was afterwards in the possession of Thomas Passinger.
Henry R. Plomer. (1907) A Dictionary Of The
Booksellers And Printers Who Were At Work In England, Scotland And Ireland From
1641 To 1667. London
PASSINGER, Thomas
Co Co Bridge,
1678-83 The 'Three Bibles' on London Bridge, 1664-88, 2nd Prec London Bridge,
1659, St Magnus, 1672, 1687 (1) STA, appr, 1657, to Charles Tyas of the 'Three
Bibles', London Bridge, fr, 1665/6, L, 1668 (2) bur 8 Jun 1688, St Magnus (3)
Will PCC 82 Exton pr, 20 Jun 1688 f Thomas Passinger of Guildford, Surr (4)
Bookseller, partnership with William Thackbery in a ballad warehouse (5) Tory
("good", 1682) (6)
(1) Plomer,
Booksellers, 1641-67, p 145, WMBk, Bridge, VBk, St Magnus, will (2) Plomer,
Booksellers, 1641-67, p 145, STA, Appr Bound, etc, II, Appr Reg, 1606-66, 7 Sep
1657 (3) Reg, St Magnus (4) Plomer, Booksellers, 1641-67 p 145, STA, Appr Reg,
1606-66, 7 Sep 1657 (5) Plomer, Booksellers, 1641-67, p 145, will (6)
SP/29/418/199, 435/100, H of L, MS 154 (1)
The Rulers of London 1660-1689 A Biographical
Record of the Aldermen and Common Councilment of the City of London. Originally
published by London & Middlesex Archaeological Society, London, 1966.
TRACY (Ebenezer),
bookseller in London, Three Bibles on London Bridge, 1695-1719. Successor to
Thomas Passinger the Second. Began publishing in 1695. [T.C. II. 547.]
Published many ballads, chapbooks and nautical manuals. He was also the
proprietor of a patent medicine called the " Balsam of Chili ", the
virtues of which he set out in a pamphlet published in 1696. [T.C. II. 579.] In
1714/15 he pad a fine of £12 from exemption from serving the office of
churchwarden of St. Magnus. He was succeeded by his sons H. and J. Tracy. There
was another house called the Three Bibles, " the corner house of the
square, about the middle of London Bridge ", occupied by John Stuart,
stationer, who dealt in playing cards and wall-papers, and who also sold a
" Balsam of Chili ", in rivalry with the Tracys.
Henry R. Plomer.
(1922) A dictionary of the printers and booksellers who were at work in
England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725" University Of California,
Santa Barbara
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This trade token, worth a farthing, was issued for a business at the sign of the Three Bibles, in London Bridge. Boyne & Williamson (1889) reference London number 1761. Obv inscription: AT.THE.3.BIBLES.ON (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = C.S.T. (triad of initials in Roman capitals, in field); Rev inscription: LONDON.BRIDGE (around field, in Roman capitals) Device = Three bibles (in field). The issuer was Charles Tyus, Stationer, fl. 1656-1664, see Henry A. Plomer, A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667 (London, 1907 p. 185, as cited in See also token number 7288 in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, 59, The Norweb Collection: Tokens of the British Isles 1575-1750, Part VII - City of London. London Bridge, and surrounding area, on the north bank of the River Thames, lies in Bridge Ward, in the City of London. |
Ref:
Notes and Queries (1883) VII: 461-2.
Notes and Queries (1931) CLXI (dec05): 400-404.
Notes and Queries
(1939) 176 (19): 327-330.
Last update: 06
February 2015