[2] In time, Jaggard developed one of the largest print shops of his generation; he was eventually assisted by his son Isaac (died 1627), who succeeded to his father's business in 1623.
The distinction, while generally valid, was not absolute; some successful printers, like Richard Field, published a significant minority of the works they printed.
When the Stationers Company decided to issue a general catalogue of English books published in 1618–19, Jaggard was chosen as its printer.
[5] He also printed books of varying types, including works by Richard Barnfield and John Davies of Hereford.
The Topsell volumes show another side of Jaggard's professional accomplishment; his firm was capable of high-quality craftmanship.
In 1608 Jaggard bought out the business of the elderly James Roberts, a printer with significant connections to the Shakespeare canon.
In one view, "William Jaggard was in general a reputable printer and it was only when he was dealing with Shakespeare's work that he became at all unethical...."[7] Harsher verdicts have also been rendered.