Publications of W. W.

Note: The following printer, bookseller, or publisher lists are works in progress. They are generated from title page imprints and may reproduce false and misleading attributions or contain errors.

What does "printed by" mean? How to read the roles ascribed to people in the imprints.

In terms of the book trades, the lists below are sorted into up to four groups where: the person is designated in the imprint as having a single role:

  1. "printed by x"; or
  2. "sold by x"; or
  3. "printed for x" or "published by x";

or as having multiple roles in combination (which suggests a likelihood that the person is a trade publisher):

  1. "printed and sold by x"; "printed for and sold by x"; or "printed by and for x" and so on.

Printers (owners of the type and printing presses, and possibly owners of the copyright) may be identified by the words printed by, but printed by does not universally designate a person who is a printer by trade. Booksellers may be identified by the words sold by, but sold by encompasses a number of roles. Booksellers or individuals who owned the copyright are generally identified by the words printed for, but nothing should be concluded in this regard without further evidence, especially since "printed for" could signify that the named person was a distributor rather than a copyright holder. Trade publishers, who distributed books and pamphlets but did not own the copyright or employ a printer—and were not printers themselves—might be identified by the words printed and sold by. Furthermore, works from this period often display false imprints, whether to evade copyright restrictions, to conceal the name of the copyright holders, or to dupe unwitting customers. Ultimately, one must proceed with caution in using the following lists: designations in the imprints may not reliably reflect the actual trades or roles of the people named, and the formulas used in imprints do not consistently mean the same thing.

David Foxon discussed the "meaning of the imprint" in his Lyell Lecture delivered at Oxford in March 1976, with particular attention to "publishers" in the eighteenth-century context:

The fullest form of an imprint is one which names three people, or groups of people:
     London: printed by X (the printer), for Y (the bookseller who owned the copyright), and sold by Z.
In the eighteenth century the printer's name is rarely given, at least in works printed in London, and the form is more commonly:
     London: printed for Y, and sold by Z.
Very often in this period, and particularly for pamphlets, it is further abbreviated to:
     London: printed and sold by Z.
It is this last form which is my present concern. Z is usually what the eighteenth century called 'a publisher', or one who distributes books and pamphlets without having any other responsibility—he does not own the copyright or employ a printer, or even know the author.

D. F. McKenzie coined the term "trade publisher" for these publishers in his Sandars Lectures, also in 1976, on the grounds that their principal role was to publish on behalf of other members of the book trade (Treadwell 100).

Michael Treadwell cautions that "In this period the imprint 'London: Printed and sold by A.B.' normally means 'Printed at London, and sold by A.B.' and must not be taken to mean that A.B. is a printer in the absence of other evidence." Further, "The imprint 'published by' occurs only rarely in Wing and is almost always associated with the name of a trade publisher" (104). While there are exceptions to the rule, it is "certain," he explains, "that anyone who made a speciality of distributing works for others will show a far higher proportion than normal of imprints in one of the 'sold by' forms" (116), which appear in the imprint as "sold by," "printed and sold by," or "published by" (104). Treadwell gives Walter Kettilby as an example of "a fairly typical copyright-owning bookseller" (106)—his role is almost always designated by the phrase "printed for" on imprints.

A final caution: publisher is a word that should be used with some deliberation. Samuel Johnson defines it simply as "One who puts out a book into the world," but "published by" rarely appears on the imprint until later in the eighteenth century, and then primarily associated with newspapers and pamphlets. Treadwell observes that John Dunton names only five publishers among the 200 binders and booksellers in his autobiographical Life and Errors (1705) wherein he undertakes "to draw the Character of the most Eminent [Stationers] in the Three Kingdoms" (100). Treadwell also remarks, however, that "in law, anyone who offered a work for sale 'published' it. In this sense every work had one or more 'publishers', and every bookseller, mercury, and hawker was a 'publisher'" (114).

See:

  • Terry Belanger, "From Bookseller to Publisher: Changes in the London Book Trade, 1750–1850," in Book Selling and Book Buying. Aspects of the Nineteenth-Century British and North American Book Trade, ed. Richard G. Landon (Chicago: American Library Association, 1978).
  • Bricker, Andrew Benjamin. "Who was 'A. Moore'? The Attribution of Eighteenth-Century Publications with False and Misleading Imprints," in The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America 110.2 (2016).
  • John Dunton, The Life and Errors of John Dunton (London: Printed for S. Malthus, 1705).
  • John Feather, "The Commerce of Letters: The Study of the Eighteenth-Century Book Trade," Eighteenth-Century Studies 17 (1984).
  • David Foxon, Pope and the Early Eighteenth-Century Book Trade, ed. James McLaverty (Oxford University Press, 1991).
  • Samuel Johnson, Dictionary of the English Language, (printed for J. and P. Knapton; T. and T. Longman; C. Hitch and L. Hawes; A. Millar; and R. and J. Dodsley, 1755).
  • D.F. McKenzie, The London Book Trade in the Later Seventeenth Century (Sandars lectures in bibliography, 1977).
  • Michael Treadwell, "London Trade Publishers 1675–1750," The Library sixth series, vol. 4, no. 2 (1982).

Printed by W. W.

  • Cibber, Colley. The school-boy: or, the comical rival. A farce of two acts. As it is acted by His Majesty's company of comedians, at the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Written by Mr. Cibber. London: printed by W. W. for W. Chetwood; and T. Jauncy, 1720. ESTC No. N21570. Grub Street ID 10929.

Printed for W. W.

  • Sherlock, William. A practical discourse concerning death. By William Sherlock, ... London: printed for W. W. and sold by the proprietors, 1741. ESTC No. N12022. Grub Street ID 2031.

Author

  • W., W.. Idolaters ruine and Englands triumph; or the meditations of a maimed souldier. Wherein is contained singular incouragement for all souldiers that fight for the lawes of a Kingdome, and the liberty of the subject, and contend for the Gospel of Christ, against the power of antichrist. And also certaine descriptions of plots and traytors, both in England and Ireland; and also how God hath crossed idolaters ever since the creation, at one time or other; and of later times how God hath prevented by his power and providence the noysome vermine and brood of Rome, from bringing their cursed intents and purposes to perfection. Written by a Commander, wounded in the Parliament service, well knowne, and approved of, in, and about London: in the time of his cure meditating upon the 48 of Jeremiah, at the 30 verse, I know his wrath, saith the Lord of hosts, but it shall not be so, his lies shall not so effect it. By W. W. Souldier. Authorized and published according to order. London: printed for the author [by M. Simmons], in the yeare 1645. ESTC No. R2808. Grub Street ID 111183.
  • W., W.. Occult physick, or The three principles in nature anatomized by a philosophical opperation [sic], taken from experience, in three books. The first of beasts, trees, herbs, and their magical and physical vertues. The second book containeth most excellent and rare medicines for all diseases happening to the bodies of both men and women, which never yet saw the light; an incomparable piece. The third and last book, is a denarian tract, shewing how to cure all diseases with ten medicaments; and the mystery of the quarternary, and quinary number opened; with a table shewing the suns rising, setting, hours of the day, hours of the night, and how many minutes are contained in a planetary hour both day and night; with a table of the signs continuance on the ascendent, fitted for magical uses; as gathering of herbs, roots, and the like, with their uses. Whereunto is added a neccessary [sic] tract, shewing how to judge of a disease by the affliction of the moon, upon the sight of the patients ur. London: printed by Tho. Leach, for H. Marsh, at the Princes Arms in Chancery Lane, and for W. Palmer, at the Palm Tree near St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet, 1660. ESTC No. R228281. Grub Street ID 100975.
  • W., W.. Proposals to the officers of the Army, and to the City of London for the taking off all excise, taxes, and custom: with a perfect unity of the Army, City, and Commons of England, for a free Parliament, and a firm peace, throughout the three nations. By VV.VV. Gent. London: printed for R. Ibbitson dwelling in Smithfield neer Hosier-Lane, MDCLX [1660]. ESTC No. R208047. Grub Street ID 84349.
  • W., W.. Occult physick, or The three principles in nature anotomized by a philosophical operation, taken from experience, in three books. The first of beasts, trees, herbs, and their magical and physical vertues. The second book containeth the most excellent and rare medicines for all diseases happening to the bodies both of men and women, which never yet saw light; an incomparable piece. The third and last book, is a denarian tract, shewing how to cure all diseases with ten medicaments; and the mystery of the quarternary, and quinary number opened; with a table shewing the suns rising, setting, hours of the day, hours of the night, and how many minutes are contained in a planetary hour both day and night; ... Whereunto is added a necessary tract, shewing how to judge of a disease by the affliction of the moon, upon the sight of the patients urine, with an example; ... By W.W. philosophus; student in the c?istial sciences. London: printed by Tho. Leach, and are to be sold by W. Palmer, at the Palm-Tree near St. Dunstans Church in Fleetstreet, 1660. ESTC No. R10751. Grub Street ID 59094.
  • W., W.. Britannia iterum beata: or, A poem-narrative of Her gracious Majesties departure from Lisbone, with her thrice-welcome arrival at Portsmouth. By W. W. Printed at London: by James Cottrel, anno 1662. ESTC No. R217647. Grub Street ID 92414.
  • W., W.. The English and Dutch affairs displayed to the life: both in matters of warr, state, and merchandize; how far the English engaged in their defence, against the most potent monarchy of Spain; and how ill the Dutch have since requited the English, for their extraordinary favours; not onely in the time of Queen Elizabeth their protector and defendress; but also in the time of King James, by their bloody massacree of them at Amboyna: their ingratitude to King Charles the First of glorious memory: and the true state of affairs, as they now stand in the reign of our royal soveraign, King Charles the Second. By a true lover and asserter of his countries honour. London: printed by Thomas Mabb, for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Brittaine, 1664. ESTC No. R24585. Grub Street ID 108355.
  • W., W.. An history of the transactions betwixt the crown of England and the States of the Netherlands, since they first began to be a republique, to this day. Shewing the most remarkable occurrences not onely betwixt them and the Spanyards, and how far the English engaged in their defence, but also all the chief proceedings betwixt them and the English, both in matters of war and trade. London: printed by Thomas Mabb for Edward Thomas at the Adam and Eve in Little Brittaine, 1664. ESTC No. R6851. Grub Street ID 127150.
  • W., W.. The Christians refuge: or Heavenly antidotes against the plague in this time of generall contagion[,] to which is added the Charitable physician prescribing cheap and absolute remedies, for prevention and cure thereof[.] Published for the benifit of all families. London: sold by H. Marsh at the Princes, Armes in the Chancery-Lane, 1665. ESTC No. R473769. Grub Street ID 125175.
  • W., W.. An episcopal almanack for the year of the worlds creation, 5625. Mankinds redemption, 1676. Being the bissextile or leap-year. Illustrated and continued with the lives and actions of divers of the primitive bishops, and doctors of the church with several other things necessary for an annual ephemeris. Calculated properly for the famous University and town of Cambridge, where the pole is elevated 52 degrees and 17 minutes above the horizon. London: printed by J. Macock for the Company of Stationers, 1676. ESTC No. R33104. Grub Street ID 115749.
  • W., W.. An Episcopal almanack for the year of the worlds creation, 5626. Mankinds redemption, 1677. Being the first after bissextile or leap-year. Illustrated and continued with the lives and actions of divers eminent bishops, and doctors of the church with several other things necessary for an annual ephemeris. Calculated properly for the famous University and town of Cambridge, whose longitude is 24 degr. and 20 min. Latitude 52 degr. and 17 min. London: printed by J. Macock for the Company of Stationers, 1677. ESTC No. R226242. Grub Street ID 99336.
  • W., W.. An Episcopal almanack for the year of the worlds creation, 5626. Mankinds redemption, 1677. Being the first after bissextile or leap year. Illustrated and continued with the lives and actions of divers eminent bishops, and doctors of the church with several other things necessary for an annual ephemeris. Calculated properly for the famous University and town of Cambridge, whose latitude [sic] is 24 degr. and 20 min. Latitude 52 degr. and 17 min. London: printed by J. Macock for the Company of Stationers, 1677. ESTC No. R15944. Grub Street ID 63836.
  • W., W.. An Episcopal almanack for the year of the worlds creation, 5627. Mankinds redemption, 1678. Being the second after bissextile or leap-year. Illustrated and continued with the lives and actions of divers eminent bishops, and doctors of the Church, with several other thing necessary for an annual ephemeris. Calculated properly for the famous University and town of Cambridge, whose longitude is 24 degr. and 20 min. latitude 52 degr. and 17 min. London: printed by J. Macock for the Company of Stationers, 1678. ESTC No. R31889. Grub Street ID 114643.
  • W., W.. Encheiridion paradeigmatikon∙ Or, A manual of examples, assisting youth in their school-exercise of making theams. A work hitherto muchwanting unto schools. By W.W. formerly head-schoolmaster of the cathedral school in Hereford, and lately chief-master of the free-school in Leicester. London: printed for the author, and are to be sold by Benjamin Tooke, at the ship in St. Pauls Church-yard, 1679. ESTC No. R186117. Grub Street ID 74931.
  • W., W.. The vermin-killer, being a very necessary family-book, containing exact rules and directions for the artifical killing and destroying of all manner of vermin, &c. Rats and mice moles pismires flyes fleas & lice adders snakes weasles catterpillars buggs froggs, &c. Whereunto is added the art of taking of all sorts of fish and foul, with many other observations never before extant. By W.W. London: printed for Samuel Lee at the Feathers near the Post-Office in Lombard-street, 1680. ESTC No. R22551. Grub Street ID 98673.
  • W., W.. A congratulatory poem on the Right Honourable Sir Patience Ward, Knight and Baronet, Lord Mayor of the City of London. London: printed for Rich. Janaway, 1680. ESTC No. R1918. Grub Street ID 76967.
  • W., W.. A congratulary poem on the Right Honourable Sir Patience Ward, Knight and Baronet, Lord Mayor of the City of London. London: printed for Rich. Janaway, 1680. ESTC No. R221254. Grub Street ID 95440.
  • W., W.. Antidotum Britannicum: or, A counter-pest against the destructive principles of Plato redivivus: wherein His Majestie's royal prerogatives are asserted, and the ancient rights of the imperial crown of England are vindicated, against all innovators. London: printed for Richard Sare at Grays-Inn Gate in Holborn, 1681. ESTC No. R12773. Grub Street ID 60921.
  • W., W.. Three private prayers for the use of all devout Protestants. Viz. I. In times of trouble. II. Fro the church. III. For perseverance. [London: printed for Richard Baldwin, 1688]. ESTC No. R186119. Grub Street ID 74933.
  • W., W.. A week's exercise, preparatory towards a worthy reception of the Lord's Supper in meditations, prayers, and ejaculations, before, at, and after the Holy Communion. Also rules and exercises how to live well after it. London: printed for Abel Roper, at the Mitre near Temple-Bar; and Thomas Bever, next door to Richard's Coffee-House in Fleet-street, 1690. ESTC No. R212913. Grub Street ID 88454.
  • W., W.. A week's exercise, preparatory towards a worthy reception of the Lords Supper in meditations, prayers, and ejaculations, before, at, and after the Holy Communion. Also rules and exercises how to live well after it. London: printed for Abel Roper, and Tho. Bever, at the Hand and Star, near Temple-bar, 1695. ESTC No. R219889. Grub Street ID 94360.
  • W., W.. Novum lumen chirurgicum extinctum: or, Med. Colbatch's New light of chirurgery put out. Wherein the dangerous and uncertain wound-curing of the pretended med. and the base imposture of his quack medicines, are impartially examin'd, describ'd, and evidently confuted: and th method and medicines formerly receive'd, and successfully practis'd, are rationally vindicated from the calumnies of his ignorant and malicious aspersions. His experiments which he mentions, convicted of falshood; and others what their miscarriages are, annex'd; which he had craftily and knowingly suppress'd. By W.W. surgeon. London: printed and sold by Andrew Bell at the Cross-Keys in the Poultry, 1695. ESTC No. R204408. Grub Street ID 81369.
  • W., W.. A weeks exercise preparatory towards a worthy reception of the Lords supper in meditations, prayers, and ejaculations, Before, At, and After the Holy Communion. Also Rules and Exercises How to live well after it. London: printed for A. Roper at the Black-Boy, and Tho. Bever, at the Hand and Star, in Fleetstreet, 1706. ESTC No. T99309. Grub Street ID 318454.
  • W., W.. The eclipse, a poem, in commemoration of the total eclipse of the sun, April 22. 1715. By. W. W. London: printed for J. Baker, at the Black-Boy in Pater-Noster-Row, [1715]. ESTC No. N2471. Grub Street ID 14057.
  • W., W.. A weeks exercise preparatory towards a worthy reception of the Lord's supper in meditations, prayers, and ejaculations, ... London: printed for S. Butler, 1719. ESTC No. N35682. Grub Street ID 23805.
  • W., W.. A letter to a lady. In Praise of Female Learning. Dublin: printed by J. Jones, in Clarendon Street, opposite Copinger's-Lane, 1739. ESTC No. T819. Grub Street ID 302525.
  • W., W.. A noble pattern for the imitation of all Christian believers. Being the substance of a letter sent to a converted young lady from a dying person gradually approaching the world of spirits. ... London: printed for the Author, and sold by M. Lewis and J. Buckland, and G. Keith, [1770?]. ESTC No. T6023. Grub Street ID 286119.
  • W., W.. Matlock; a farewell descriptive poem. Most humbly dedicated to Her Grace Georgiana Dutchess of Devonshire. London: printed: and sold by Robert Baldwin, 1786. ESTC No. N61340. Grub Street ID 44176.
  • W., W.. The Christian life considered, in several particulars. By W. W. London: printed and sold by H. Trapp: also may be had of the author, 1790. ESTC No. N44244. Grub Street ID 29727.
  • W., W.. Reflections on the vicissitudes of time. In a letter from a brother to his sister. London: printed and sold by H. Trapp, No. 1. Pater-Noster-Row; also may be had of the author, No. 3. Britannia-Row, Islington, MDCCXC. [1790]. ESTC No. T46596. Grub Street ID 274682.