Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Luckombe, Philip

by Albert Frederick Pollard

LUCKOMBE, PHILIP (d. 1803), miscellaneous writer, was born at Exeter. After acting as a printer for twelve years, he is said to have entered ‘one of the Oxford colleges’ (Nichols), but his name does not figure in the university register. He subsequently settled in London, and did much miscellaneous literary work. Besides editing several dictionaries and cyclopædias, he wrote books on printing, and made a special study of conchology. His collection of shells was considerable, and his learning brought him the acquaintance of Bishop Percy. He died in September 1803. There is a mezzotint octavo oval portrait of him, drawn by T. Kearsley and engraved by R. H. Laurie.

His principal works are:

1. ‘A Concise History of the Origin and Progress of Printing,’ 1770, 8vo.
2. ‘The History and Art of Printing,’ 2 parts, 1771, 8vo.
3. ‘A Tour through Ireland,’ 1780, 12mo.
4. ‘The Traveller's Companion, or a New Itinerary of England and Wales,’ 1789, 8vo.
5. `England's Gazetteer,’ 3 vols. 1790, 12mo.
6. ‘The Tablet of Memory,’ 8th edit. 1792.

[Works in Brit. Mus.; Nichols's Illustr. of Lit. viii. 26, 27, 31, 32.]

A. F. P.