Publications of W. Ley

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 the seller and printer roles in combination, or an absence of the printer's name following "London: printed:" or "London: printed,":

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

On this last point, trade publishers may seem to have "printed" or "published" the work, though they did not own the copyright. The lists below reflect only the information on the imprint, except where ESTC provides extra information.

See also "The Meaning of the Imprint."

Printed for W. Ley

  • Rudyerd, Benjamin. The speech of that vvorthy knight, Sir Beniamin Rudierd, spoken in Parliament; concerning the placing of good and able divines in parishes miserably destitute of instruction, through want of maintenance. And confirmed by the testimonies of three judicious, and learned men. London: printed for W. Ley, and are to be sold at his shop at Pauls-Chaine, 1641. ESTC No. R12030. Grub Street ID 60248.