Giles Calvert (1612–1663)
Giles Calvert, bookseller and stationer, at the Black-Spread-Eagle, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1639–64. Succeeded by his widow Elizabeth Calvert.
A Dictionary of the Booksellers and Printers who were at Work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1641 to 1667, by Henry Plomer (1907)
CALVERT (GILES), bookseller in London; Black-Spread-Eagle, St. Paul's Churchyard, 1639–64. Son of George Calvert, of Meere, in the county of Somerset, "clerk," and brother of George Calvert, q.v. He was first apprenticed to William Lugger, bookseller, for nine years from June 30th, 1628, but for some reason not stated his indentures were cancelled, and he took out fresh indentures on June 11th, 1631/2, for the remainder of his term, seven years, with Joseph Hunscott. [Stationers' Register of Apprenticeships.] He took up his freedom on January 25th, 1639. [Arber, iii. 688.] He is chiefly noted as the publisher of the early Quaker literature, but so far as is at present known he was not openly of that society. On Cromwell's accession to power Giles Calvert, with Henry Hills and Thomas Brewster, was appointed official "printer" to the Council of State. This appointment shows that he was in favour with the Government, and explains how it was that he was able to publish Quaker books without restraint. On only one occasion, in 1656, does he appear to have been questioned, but nothing serious seems to have followed. [State Papers, 1656, p. 308.] In 1661 he was arrested and thrown into prison for publishing a pamphlet entitled The Phœnix of the Solemn League and Covenant, but he was released after a few weeks' confinement. He is believed to have died about April, 1664, and was succeeded in his business by his widow, Elizabeth Calvert.