Legal Definitions - Stationers' Company

Stationers' Company

The Stationers' Company was a powerful guild, or professional association, established in London in 1557. Composed of individuals involved in the book trade—including printers, publishers, booksellers, and binders—it played a crucial role in regulating the printing industry in England. By order of the Privy Council, the Company was granted significant authority to both control and censor printed materials. This meant they had the power to approve or suppress publications, ensuring that content aligned with the Crown's interests and prevailing social norms. Furthermore, the Stationers' Company was instrumental in establishing the earliest forms of what we now recognize as copyright, by registering works and granting exclusive rights to its members to print and sell specific titles.

Examples:

• Scenario: In the late 16th century, a London printer wishes to publish a new collection of poems that subtly criticizes the government's foreign policy. Before printing, the printer would have been required to submit the manuscript to the Stationers' Company for review and approval.

  How this illustrates: This scenario demonstrates the Stationers' Company's role in press censorship. They held the authority to scrutinize and potentially block the publication of any material deemed politically sensitive or subversive, thereby controlling the flow of information and opinion.

• Scenario: An ambitious bookseller in 17th-century London discovers a popular new play and wants to ensure they have the sole right to print and sell copies of it, preventing competitors from profiting from the same work. To secure this exclusivity, the bookseller would register the play with the Stationers' Company.

  How this illustrates: This example highlights the Company's function as an early administrator of intellectual property rights. By registering the work, the bookseller gained a form of proto-copyright, an exclusive privilege granted by the Stationers' Company to print and sell that specific title, which was a precursor to modern copyright law.

• Scenario: A young apprentice printer, having completed his training, seeks to establish his own printing press and begin publishing books in London during the 18th century. To operate legally and participate in the lucrative book trade, he would first need to become a member of the Stationers' Company.

  How this illustrates: This shows the Stationers' Company's power as a regulatory body over the printing profession itself. Membership was often a prerequisite for engaging in the trade, allowing the Company to control who could print, maintain standards, and ensure adherence to its rules and the Crown's directives.