RYALL, John (1733-1797) — London
Printseller, mapseller, bookseller and publisher. Published later states of material first produced by John Tinney (see BME 2011), e.g. co-publishing with John Bowles & Thomas Bowles 2, John Rocque, untitled plan of London 1759, originally engraved by Isaac Basire and Richard William Seale for John Pine and Tinney in 1749 (see BME 2011). He was also one of the conger of publishers who produced Emanuel Bowen & Thomas Kitchin (see BME 2011), ‘The royal English atlas’ 1762-1764; A plan of part of the city of London, from the Bank to Leaden Hall Street, including the houses destroyd & damaged by the late fire, in Bishopsgate Street, Cornhill &c. 1765. Also published portraits, perspective views which “have a most suprizing effect in the concave glasses, or optical pillar machines” (Public Advertiser, 1 Oct 1755), music, etc., sometimes working in collaboration with John Bowles, Robert Sayer and others (see BME 2011). He also published the official ‘Whole proceedings on the King’s commission of the peace, : oyer and terminer, and gaol delivery, for the city of London’ 1762-1763; Mark Catesby (see BME 2011), ‘Hortus Britanno-Americanus, or, a curious collection of trees and shrubs, the produce of the British colonies in North America : adapted to the soil and climate of England’ 1763; ‘Authentic memoirs of William Wynne Ryland : containing a succinct account of the life and transactions of that great but unfortunate artist’ 1784, etc.
His name also appears in the forms Royal, Rayall, Ryal, Rial, etc. Baptised at Henstridge, Somerset, 4 Oct 1733, the son of Jonathan Ryall and his wife Elizabeth Green, who had married at Maperton 14 Mar 1728. Free (Goldsmiths) by redemption 6 May 1755, recorded as the son of the late Jonathan Ryall of Henstridge, a weaver. In partnership 1755-1758 with Robert Withy (1732-1803). Ryall and Withy’s shop opposite Salisbury Court was eight doors west of Shoe Lane, on the corner of Peterborough Court, just the width of the court from those of Benjamin Cole 2 and his son, and their next-door neighbour John Tinney (see BME 2011). In 1757, the partners were offering framed miniature portraits of their customers for a guinea apiece (Public Advertiser, 18 Jun 1757). Later that year they offered “A plan of Fort Jansenius, with the order of battle of his holiness the Pope against it”, which appears no longer to survive (Public Advertiser, 22 Jul 1757). Their contemporary trade-card reads in part, “books in all languages, arts & sciences; all sorts of English and foreign prints & maps. Variety of colour’d perspective views, paintings on glass, India pictures, &c. &c. Prints, drawings, &c fram’d & glaz’d in the most elegant taste. Likewise all sorts of stationary wares”. Although Withy’s name continued to appear in land-tax records until the following year, the partnership had ended in 1758: Ryall “still continues carrying on his business of book, map and print-selling, wholesale and retail, at his old shop at Hogarth’s Head” (Public Advertiser, 8 Jul 1758), with Withy moving to separate premises in Cornhill. In 1759, Ryall’s name replaced that of John Tinney in the imprint of John Rocque’s single-sheet plan of London noted above, with Ryall now recorded at Tinney’s Golden Lion address, although Ryall does not appear in land-tax records at this address until after Tinney’s death in 1761, and was still listed at his almost adjacent original address until 1762. Ryall then remained in Tinney’s old shop until 1763, before returning to his original address in 1764-1765. Declared bankrupt in 1766 and again 11 Mar 1776 (certificate granted 11 Mar 1777). In 1777, Ryall stood bail for a man called William Sampel, who had been accused of fraud. His shop in Lombard Street was next door to the old General Post Office. On 16 Feb 1791, Ryall was found guilty on an obscenity charge, the Recorder pronouncing, “John Ryall, you have been convicted of publishing a very obscene libel, so gross that common decency will not permit me to repeat any article of what must give offence to all who are here; the tendency of such a publication to corrupt the morals of both sexes, is too manifest and too enormous to require any demonstration; if the print, like the one before us, can with impunity be placed into the hands of those, who would either contaminate their own minds, or for the vilest of purposes, corrupt and debauch the minds of others”. Ryall’s change of plea to guilty and his surrender for destruction of similar books and prints spared him the pillory, but he was sentenced to a year in prison notwithstanding. A letter from Ryall later sent from Newgate Prison (NA) telling of a hip complaint needing urgent treatment, and asking for the Home Secretary’s attention to his petition for a royal pardon, was presented at the Home Office 5 Sep 1791 by Matthew Bloxham, M.P. for Maidstone. Bloxham followed up with a letter (also in NA) to the Attorney General urging haste. The outcome is not known, but Ryall was buried at St. Marylebone 17 Dec 1797.
At ye Dial & 3 Crowns in Fleet Street
At Hogarth’s Head (and Dial), opposite Salisbury Court, Fleet Street — 1755-1762
At the Golden Lion in Fleet Street — 1759?
At the Golden Lion in Fleet Street — 1761-1763
At Hogarth’s Head, opposite Salisbury Court, Fleet Street — 1764-1765
Union Street, Westminster — 1774-1778
17 Lombard Street — 1781-1794
81 Snow Hill — 1784-1785
Apprentice: John Plucknett (£105) 1762.
BBTI. BM. BNA. Chubb. Clayton. Goldsmiths. Henrey. Hodson (1997). Howgego. Humphries & Smith. LG. LHD. LMA. Maxted. Maxted (1985). NA. OB.