Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Newbery, Ralph
NEWBERY, RALPH or RAFE (fl. 1590), publisher, carried on his business as both printer and publisher in Fleet Street, a little above the Conduit. Thomas Powell the publisher had been the previous tenant of the house, and Powell had succeeded Thomas Berthelet. Newbery was made free of the Stationers' Company 21 Jan. 1560 (Register, i. 21), was warden of the Company in 1583, and again in 1590, and a master in 1598 and 1601. He gave a stock of books, and the privilege of printing, to be sold for the benefit of Christ's Hospital and Bridewell. Newbery's first book, ‘Pallengenius’ (ib. p. 127), was dated 1560, and his name appears on many of the most important publications of his day, such as ‘Hakluyt's Voyages,’ ‘Holinshed's Chronicle’ (1584), a handsome Latin Bible, in folio (by Junius Tremellius, &c.), 1593, which he published in conjunction with George Bishop and R. Barker. Among the other productions of his press may be noted ‘Ecloges, Epitaphes, and Sonattes,’ written by Barnabe Googe, 1563; Stow's ‘Annals,’ 1592 and 1601; ‘A Book of the Invention of the Art of Navigation,’ London, 1578, 4to; ‘An ancient Historie and curious Chronicle,’ London, 1578. In 1590 he printed in Greek type Chrysostom's works. No book was entered on the Stationers' registers under his name after 31 May 1603, when he received a license, together with George Bishop and Robert Barker, to issue a new edition of Thomas James's ‘Bellum Papale.’ Ralph seems to have retired from business in 1605 (cf. Arber, iii. 162, and index). John Newbery, apparently a brother, was a publisher at the sign of the Ball, in St. Paul's Churchyard, from 1594 till his death in 1603, when his widow, Joan, continued the concern for a year longer. Nathanael Newbery pursued the same occupation from 1616 to 1634, chiefly dealing in puritan tracts.