Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Clavell, Robert
CLAVELL, ROBERT (d. 1711), bookseller, of London, was the author of a curious little treatise entitled 'His Majesties Propriety and Dominion on the Brittish Seas asserted : together with a true Account of the Neatherlanders' Insupportable Insolencies, and Injuries they have committed; and the Inestimable Benefits they have gained in their Fishing on the English Seas : as also their Prodigious and Horrid Cruelties in the East and West Indies, and other Places. To which is added an exact Mapp,' &c., 8vo, London, 1665 (another edition, 8vo, London, 1672). He is better known, however, by his useful classified lists of current literature, the first number of which appeared at the end of Michaelmas term, 1668, the last at the end of Trinity term, 1700. Collective editions are as follows: 1. 'Mercurius Librarius, or a Catalogue of Books printed and published in Michaelmas Term (Hillary Term, 1668, Easter Term, Michaelmas Term, 1669),' fol. [London, 1668-9]. Nos. 1-4 were the joint compilation of Clavell and John Starkey, a fellow bookseller. 2. 'The General Catalogue of Books printed in England since the dreadful Fire of London, 1666, to the end of Trinity Term, 1674. Collected by R. Clavell,' fol. London, 1675. 3. 'The General Catalogue of Books printed ... since ... 1666, to ... 1680 ... To which is added, a Catalogue of Latin Books, printed in foreign parts, and in England since 1670,' fol. London, 1680 [-81]. 4. 'A Catalogue of Books printed in England ... since ... 1666, to the end of Michaelmas Term, 1695. With an Abstract of the general Bills of Mortality since 1660,' fourth edition, fol. London, 1696. 5. 'A Catalogue of Books printed and published at London in Easter Term, 1670, to Trinity Term, 1700,' fol. [London, 1670-1700]. Dunton describes Clavell as ' a great dealer, who has deservedly gained himself the reputation of a just man. Dr. Barlow, bishop of Lincoln, used to call him "the honest bookseller." He has been master of the Company of Stationers [1698 and 1699]; and perhaps the greatest unhappiness of his life was his being one of Alderman Cornish's jury' (Life and Errors, ed. 1818, i. 207). He died at Islington in 1711 (Probate Act Book, P. C. C., August 1711). His will, as ' citizen and stationer of London,' dated 17 April 1711, was proved on the following 8 Aug. by Catherine Clavell, his widow (Reg. in P. C. C. 161, Young). Mrs. Clavell survived her husband until the close of 1717, dying in the parish of St. Margaret, Westminster (Will reg. in P. C. C. 227, Whitfield; Probate Act Book, P. C. C. December 1717).
[Nichols's Lit. Anecd. iii. 608 n. ; Brit. Mus. Cat.]