Publications of the widdow

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 by the widdow

  • Hexham, Henry. A copious English and Netherdutch dictionary, comprehending the English language with the Low-Dutch explication. With an appendix of the names of all kind of beasts, fowles, birds, and fishes, &c. As also a compendious grammar for the instruction of the learner. Composed out of the best English authours, by Henry Hexham. And in this new edition amended, enlarged, and enriched with many words, by Daniel Manly. Rotterdam: printed by the widdow of Arnold Leers, at the Old Head, 1675. ESTC No. R39271. Grub Street ID 121177.

Sold by the widdow

  • Finley, Samuel. A letter to a friend. Newport [R.I.]: Printed and sold by the Widdow [sic] Franklin, under the town school-house, [1741 or 1742]. ESTC No. W18092. Grub Street ID 327685.

Printed for the widdow

  • Sewel, William. A compendious guide to the Low Dutch language. Containing the most necessary and essential grammar-rules, whereby one may speedily & without much difficulty attain to the knowledge of the aforesaid language, and the right use of the Dutch particles de and het, so much wante hitherto.= Korte wegwyzer der Nederduytsche taal. Behelzende de noodigste en weezendlykste letterkonslige regden, om spoedig en zonder veel moeite tot keunisse dier taale te geraaken. By Wm. Sewel. Amsterdam: printed for the widdow of Stephen Swart, bookseller, on the west-side of the Exchange, at the signe of the Crowned Bible, 1700. ESTC No. R183776. Grub Street ID 73544.