A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who Were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667/Robinson (Humphrey)
ROBINSON (HUMPHREY), bookseller in London: Three Pigeons, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1624-70. Took up his freedom June 30th, 1623. [Arber, iii. 685.] Became one of the largest and most important booksellers of this period. On March 7th, 1652, in partnership with R. Thrale, Joshua Kirton, and Samuel Thompson, he took over the copyrights of Thomas Whitaker, 109 in number. He was also connected with Humphrey Moseley in the publication of plays, and may be said to have had a share in the chief publications of the time. During the Commonwealth he was in correspondence with Jos. Williamson, afterwards Secretary of State, and this series of letters is amongst the State papers. They give an interesting insight into the many parts that a bookseller of those days was called upon to play [Domestic State Papers, 1655-8.] Humphrey Robinson was Master of the Stationers' Company in the years 1661 and 1667. Smyth in his Obituary (p. 89), has the following record of his death:— "Nov. 13th, 1670, Die Dominica, circa hora 6. post merid. obiit Hum. Robinson, Bibliopola Trium Columb. in Cœmiter. D. Pauli, reliquens unum fil. et unam filiam. Sepult. in ruinis Eccles. S. Fidei sub. ecclesiam Cathedr. D. Pauli die Lunæ 21 Nov., 1670." His will was dated November 10th, and proved on the 23rd, by which he bequeathed to his daughter Grace his two new built houses in St. Paul's Churchyard. His son, Humphrey Robinson, is described as a fellow of All Souls' College, Oxford. He left a bequest of £10 to the Company of Stationers to rebuild their hall. [P.C.C. 151, Penn.]