Stationersā Company
Quick Summary
The Stationers' Company was a guild in Britain that played a significant role in the regulation of printing and publishing. Formed in 1403, it initially aimed to protect its members and manage competition within the book trade. In 1557, the company received a royal charter, granting it a virtual monopoly over printing in the kingdom. This meant that only members of the company or those with special privileges could print materials for sale.
Under this system, books had to be registered with the Stationers' Company, establishing a form of copyright where the first person to register a title acquired the right to it. While this was an early step towards copyright, the company's control and subservience to authority stifled the free growth of the book trade for a considerable period. The company itself evolved into a publishing organization, controlling most printing offices in London by 1640. The Stationers' Company's influence gradually declined with the end of licensing and the breakdown of the guild system, though it remained relevant for copyright matters.12
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- almanac
ā¦England were published by the Stationerās Company; the most famous of them is the Vox Stellarum of Francis Moore, which was first published in 1700. These early printed almanacs devoted as much space to astrology and prophecies and predictions of the future as they did to basic calendrical and astronomicalā¦
Read Moreā¦England were published by the Stationerās Company; the most famous of them is the Vox Stellarum of Francis Moore, which was first published in 1700. These early printed almanacs devoted as much space to astrology and prophecies and predictions of the future as they did to basic calendrical and astronomicalā¦
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English literatureElizabethan poetry and proseThe Stationersā Company, which controlled the publication of books, was incorporated in 1557, and Richard Tottelās Miscellany (1557) revolutionized the relationship of poet and audience by making publicly available lyric poetry, which hitherto had circulated only among a courtly coterie. Spenser was the first significant Englishā¦
Read MoreThe Stationersā Company, which controlled the publication of books, was incorporated in 1557, and Richard Tottelās Miscellany (1557) revolutionized the relationship of poet and audience by making publicly available lyric poetry, which hitherto had circulated only among a courtly coterie. Spenser was the first significant Englishā¦
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history of publishingControls over printingā¦to be played by the Stationersā Company. Since its formation in 1403 from the old fraternities of scriveners, limners, bookbinders, and stationers, it had sought to protect its members and regulate competition. Its first application for a royal charter in 1542 seems to have gone unheeded; but in 1557, anā¦
Read Moreā¦to be played by the Stationersā Company. Since its formation in 1403 from the old fraternities of scriveners, limners, bookbinders, and stationers, it had sought to protect its members and regulate competition. Its first application for a royal charter in 1542 seems to have gone unheeded; but in 1557, anā¦
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