Publications of Mary Wright

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), or an obfuscation of the actual printer's name (e.g., "London: printed, and sold by x"):

  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 (see, e.g. Mary Cooper). The lists below reflect only the information on the imprint, except where ESTC provides extra information.

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. Booksellers may also be 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 (or what we might call a wholesaler) rather than a copyright holder. Copyright owners may also be identified by the words printed for. 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.

He cautions, "The only way to avoid being misled is to regard any imprint which says a book is printed for a publisher as meaning it is sold by him" (5).

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).

Sold by Mary Wright

  • Baxter, Richard. A call to the unconverted to turn and live, and accept of mercy while mercy may be had, as ever they would find mercy in the day of their extremity: from the living God. By his unworthy servant Richard Baxter. To be read in families where any are unconverted. The sixth edition.. London: printed by R.W. for Nevil Simmons bookseller at Kederminster, and are to be sold by M. Wright at the Kings-head in the Little Old Baily, 1660. At 1s. bound. ESTC No. R216282. Grub Street ID 91205.
  • Gouge, Thomas. Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long. Drawn up for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of Sepulchres parish, by Tho: Gouge, pastor thereof. The second edition.. London: printed by R. I[bbitson] and are to bee sold by M. Wright, at the Kings-head in the Old Bayley, and by other stationers of London, and Westminster, MDCLXI. [1661]. ESTC No. R215864. Grub Street ID 90824.

Printed for Mary Wright

  • The saylors departure from his dearest love, wishing that still (to him) she'd constant pr9ove, she (in the second part) doth thus reply, e're she'd foom [sic] him depart, she'd choose to die. To a new tune of, Adiew my pretty one. London: printed for M[ary]. Wright at the Kings head in the Old Baily, [between 1658 and 1662]. ESTC No. R183164. Grub Street ID 73045.
  • Cawdrey, Daniel. The account audited and discounted: or, a vindication of the three-fold diatribee, of 1. Supersition, 2. Will-worship, 3. Christmas festivall. Against Doctor Hammonds manifold paradiatribees. By D.C. preacher of the Word at Billing-Magn. in Northamptonshire. London: printed by Ralph Wood, for M. Wright, at the Kings Heads in the Old Bailey, 1658. ESTC No. R209720. Grub Street ID 85947.
  • Bunyan, John. Sighs from hell, or, The groans of a damned soul. Or, An exposition of those words in the sixteenth of Luke, concerning the rich man and the beggar: wherein is discovered the lamentable state of the damned: their cries, their desires in their distresses, with the determination of God upon them. A good warning word to sinners, both old and young, to take into consideration betimes, and to seek by faith in Jesus Christ to avoid, lest they come into the same place of torment. Also a brief discourse touching the profitableness of the Scriptures for our instruction in the way of righteousness, according to the tendancy of the said parable. By that poor and contemptible servant of Jesus Christ, John Bunyan. London: printed by Ralph Wood, for M. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, 1658. ESTC No. R210338. Grub Street ID 86514.
  • Deloney, Thomas. The garland of good vvill, divided into three parts: containing many pleasant songs, and pretty poems, to sundry new notes. With a table to find the names of all the songs. Written by T D. London: printed for M. Wright, at the Kings-Head in the Old-Baly, 1659. ESTC No. R236920. Grub Street ID 107542.
  • Bunyan, John. The doctrine of the lavv and grace unfolded: or, A discourse touching the law and grace. The nature of the one, and the nature of the other: shewing what they are, as they are the two covenants, and likewise who they be, and what their conditions are, that be under eithe of these two covenants. Wherein, for the better understanding of the reader, there is several questions answered, touching the law and grace, very easie to be read, and as easie to be understood, by those that are the sons of wisdom: the children of the second covenant. Also, several titles set over the several truths contained in this book, for thy sooner finding of them, which are those following the epistle. Published by that poor and contemptible creature, John Bunyan of Bedford. London: printed for M. Wright, at the Sign of the Kings-Head in the Old Bailey, 1659. ESTC No. R209838. Grub Street ID 86060.
  • Rowlands, Samuel. Diogenes lanthorne. In Athens I seek for honest men, but I shall find them God knows when. I'le search the city, where if I can see one honest man, he shall go with me. London: printed for M. Wright, and are to be sold at the Kings-head in the old Baily, 1659. ESTC No. R218417. Grub Street ID 93076.
  • The rules and directions of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament: concerning the examination of all such as shall be admitted to the sacrament of the Lords Supper, within the kingdome of England, and dominion of Wales: contained in an ordinance of the twentieth of October, 1645. with questions and answers concerning the same. Printed at London: for M. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bayley, 1659. ESTC No. R214218. Grub Street ID 89535.
  • Haward, Lazarus. The charges issuing forth of the crown revenue of England, and dominion of VVales. With the several officers of his Majesties courts, customs, housholds, houses, castles, towns of war, forts, bulwarks, forrests, parks, chases, with their several fees and allowances, according to the ancient establishment of the kingdom. And also the valuation of the bishops, and deanes lands, with the tenths paid out of the same. By Captain Lazarus Haward. London: printed for M. Wright, at the signe of the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, 1660. ESTC No. R202381. Grub Street ID 79627.
  • Lupton, Thomas. A thousand notable things of sundry sorts, enlarged. Whereof some are wonderfull, some strange, some pleasant, divers necessary, a great sort profitable, and many very precious. Whereunto is now added one hundred excellent conceits never before printed, very witty, usefull, and delightfull. London: printed for M. Wright at the Kings-head, in the Old-Baily, 1660. ESTC No. R202732. Grub Street ID 79950.
  • Borfet, Abiel. Postliminia Caroli II. The palingenesy, or, second-birth, of Charles the Second to his kingly life; upon the day of first, May 29. By Abiel Borfet, M.A. London: printed for M. Wright at the Kings-head in the Old-Baily, 1660. ESTC No. R208875. Grub Street ID 85094.
  • Haward, Lazarus. The charges issuing forth of the crown revenue of England, and dominion of VVales. With the several officers of his Majesties courts, customs, housholds, houses, castles, towns of war, forts, bulwarks, forrests, parks, chases, with their several fees and allowances, according to the ancient establishment of the kingdom. And also the valuation of the bishops, and deanes lands, with the tenths paid out of the same. By Captain Lazarus Haward. London: printed for M. Wright, at the signe of the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, 1660. ESTC No. R235637. Grub Street ID 106683.
  • Starkey, A. Good news for England: or The peoples triumph. Then let's be joyful, and in heart content, to see our King united with the parliament. Long live Charles the Second. To the tune of Bodkins galliard. London: printed for M[ary]. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, [1660]. ESTC No. R177521. Grub Street ID 69597.
  • Gouge, Thomas. Christian directions, shewing how to walk with God all the day long. Drawn up for the use and benefit of the inhabitants of Sepulchres parish, by Tho: Gouge, pastor thereof. London: printed by R[obert]. Ibbitson, and M[ary]. Wright, at the Kings-head in the Old Bayley, MDCLXI. [1661]. ESTC No. R955. Grub Street ID 129627.
  • The doctrine of the Bible: or, Rules of discipline, briefly gathered thorow the whole course of the Scripture, by way of questions and answers. Newly corrected and amended.. London: printed by Ralph Wood, for M. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, 1661. ESTC No. R215402. Grub Street ID 90460.
  • Donne, John. Donne's satyr. Containing 1. A short map of mundane vanity 2. A cabinet of merry conceits. 3. Certain pleasant propositions, and questions, with their merry solutions and answers. Being very useful, pleasant, and delightful to all; and offensive to none. By Jo. Donne. London: printed by R.W. for M. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old-Bailey, 1662. ESTC No. R26084. Grub Street ID 109440.
  • The history of the seven wise mistrisses of Rome. Whose names were Halicuja, Mardula, Cicre, Penthisilia, Debora, Dejanara, Boadicia. Wherein, the treachery of evil counsel is discovered, the innocency of harmless virgins cleared, and the wisdom of seven wise women displayed, to the wonder of their own nation, and the admiration of all the world. London: printed for M. Wright, at the Kings Head in the Old Bailey, 1663. ESTC No. R4376. Grub Street ID 124642.