Publications of W. L.

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 for W. L.

  • Moseley, Edward. The tryal of Sir Edward Moseley, Bart. indicted at the King's-Bench-Bar, for committing a rape upon the body of Mrs. Anne Swinnerton: January 28. 1647. To which are added, the depositions against Mr. Clark, pastor of a Presbyterian congregation, at Lambeth, for committin fornication with the widow Coleman, of the said parish, anno 1708. London: printed by E. G. for W. L. 1647. Reprinted by E. Curll, 1719. ESTC No. N13907. Grub Street ID 3804.

Author

  • L., W.. A certaine relation of the Earle of Ormonds nine dayes passages at his last going into the pale against the rebels. And also setting forth what prisoners he hath taken, and what Lords and gentlemen of the pale are come in and tendred themselves to his lordshipp. Likewise what townes he hath burnt, and what store of pillage hee sent and brought home with him. Latly sent from an honorable person in Dublin, to a worthy Irish gentleman now in England. London: printed for Iohn Franke, 1642. ESTC No. R14375. Grub Street ID 62402.
  • L., W.. The bramble berry: or, A briefe discourse touching participating in mixt assemblies at the sacrament of the Lords Supper, wherein is most full ... satisfaction given to every ... Christian, ... wherein is first principally discussed ... three maine questions following: I Whether the Congregationall assemblies in England be true churches of Jesus Christ, ... 2. Whether it be lawfull to participate at the sacrament of the Lords Supper among carnall and prophane men? 3. Whether the admitting of ungodly men ... be sufficient warrant for ministers to desist the publik administration of the sacrament, or for particular members to ... separate themselves? Secondarily, briefe ... answers given to all the principall places of Scripture alleadged to maintaine a separation from our church assemblies, ... set forth for the benefit of the tender conscience. By W. L. a ... carefull practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God. Printed at London: by Richard Cotes, 1643. ESTC No. R413. Grub Street ID 122956.
  • L., W.. The independants militarie entertainment. Or, certaine reasons and arguments why independants ought not only to be admitted into the army raised for defence of church and state, but also both by law of God, nature, and nations, are required to put their hands to the plough of the kingdome. Together with the answering of such grand objections as tend to the contrary. By W.L. Licensed, entered, and printed according to order. London: printed for Henry Overton, and are to be sold at his shop in Popes-head Alley, 1645. ESTC No. R200023. Grub Street ID 77574.
  • L., W.. Nevves from Turkie, or, A true relation of the passages of the right honourable Sir Tho. Bendish, baronet, Lord Ambassadour with the Grand Signieur at Constantinople, his entertainment and reception there. Also, a true discourse of the unjust proceedings of Sir Sackville Crow, former ambassadour there, against the English merchants, his contest with the present Lord Ambassadour, and Sir Sackviles imprisonment, and in his returne, his betraying the captain of the ship and some English merchants at Alicant in Spain, to the Inquisition; lastly his commitment to the Tower of London, where now he is. London: printed for H.B. at the Castle in Corn-Hill, 1648. ESTC No. R204897. Grub Street ID 81759.
  • L., W.. Nevves from Turkie, or, A true relation of the passages of the Right honourable Sir Tho. Bendish, baronet, Lord Ambassadour with the Grand Signieur at Constantinople, his entertainment and reception there. Also, a true discourse of the unjust proceedings of Sir Sackvile Crow, former ambassadour there, against the English merchants, his contest with the present Lord Ambassadour, and Sir Sackviles imprisonment, and in his returne, his wretched betraying the captain of the ship, and some English merchants, at Alicant in Spain, to the Inquisition; lastly his commitment to the Tower of London, where now he is. London: printed for Humphrey Blunden, and to be sold at his shop in Corn-Hill, next to the Castle Taverne, 1648. ESTC No. R105. Grub Street ID 58867.
  • L., W.. A letter from one of the persons under censure of Parliament, written upon the publishing of his Majesties late speech in the Vpper-House, with an answer thereunto. London: printed for William Shears, 1660. ESTC No. R207139. Grub Street ID 83560.
  • L., W.. King Charles vindicated, or The grand cheats of the nation discovered. With an abstract of 1 The Rumps extraordinary exactions, 2 Their large distributions of other mens estates. By W.L. a lover of his country. [London]: Printed, for Theodorus Microcosmus, 1660. ESTC No. R202782. Grub Street ID 79983.
  • L., W.. King William's welcome; or a congratulatory poem on His Majesty's happy arriva[l.] Together with the mutual comfort of King and subject, which is fully demonstrated ... the wise proceedings of the present Parlaiment in suppressing vice, associating and uniting the hearts o His Majesty's subjects. By W.L. Chaplain to one of His Majesty's ships. London: printed and sold by J. Bradford, in New-street, without Bishopsgate, near Hand Ally, [1692]. ESTC No. R229239. Grub Street ID 101771.
  • L., W.. A brief account of the most remarkable prodigies which happened at the birth, in the life, and at the death of our blessed saviour Jesus Christ. To which is added, a lively description of the person of Christ. Also, something concerning Agbarus, prince of the Edesseans; with his epistle to Christ; and Christ's letter in answer thereto. Collected out of the best historians, both divine and heathen. And illustrated with observations, both in verse and prose. By W. L. [London]: Printed and sold by J. Bradford, in Jewen-street, near Crowder's-Well, 1696. ESTC No. R224607. Grub Street ID 98214.
  • L., W.. A letter from a commoner of England, to a member of the honourable H--- of C---. [London: printed in the year, 1705]. ESTC No. T37780. Grub Street ID 267341.
  • L., W.. A pindarick ode on His Excellency John Duke of Marlborough, Prince of the Holy Empire, Marquis of Blandford, Earl of Marlborough; Baron Churchil of Sandridge, and Baron Churchil of Aumoth: Captain General of all Her Majesty's Forces, Master General of the Ordnance; One of the Lords of Her Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter. Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the States General of the United Provinces, and General of the Confederate Armies. With a view of the three last glorious and memorable campaigns. London: printed, and sold by A. Baldwin in War-Wick-Lane, [1706?]. ESTC No. T173505. Grub Street ID 210756.
  • L., W.. The french Protestant schoolmaster's catechism, dedicated for the pious use, and instruction of his own, and several other Presbyterian schools, and Godly Families in that Place In opposition to Popish Socinians, Arminians, Antinomians, Anabaptists, and Quakers; and in particular, to the horrid Arians; whose Blasphemous Tenets, Hell is Spuing out this Day upon the most part of the Earth. By a minister of the Gospel. [Edinburgh?]: Printed, in the year, [1730]. ESTC No. T123725. Grub Street ID 174057.