# Primary Sources on Copyright - Record Viewer
Decree Establishing the Venetian Guild of Printers and Booksellers, Venice (1549)

Source: Venice, Archivio di Stato: ASV, CX, Com, reg. 18, 197v-198r.

Citation:
Decree Establishing the Venetian Guild of Printers and Booksellers, Venice (1549), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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Chapter 1 Page 1

[...]

                  18 January, in the Council of Ten___

One of the principal arts of this City, and the most important in
many respects, is that of printing; which is however the only one
that remains unregulated while almost all others are well ordered
and have their capitulars and matriculation books, so that it has
happened more than once that the three deputies in charge of
matters of heresy, having heard about the authors and printers of
some scandalous and heretical books, prompted by




Chapter 1 Page 2


1548, 18th January, Council of Ten

duties pertaining to their office, they were unable to discover who had
informed them. And similarly there are many problems that occur every
day with regards to the publications that need amendment, yet, for the
same reason, it is difficult to come to know the truth, as there is no one
who represents the aforesaid art, nor who is responsible for it, so the result
is that everyone does as he pleases amidst extreme disorder and confusion.
Therefore it is necessary to make required provisions, firstly for the honour
of God, and of religion, and then for the honour of our city, and for other
public matters, just as such [provisions] have been made in the case of the
galley workers and similar trades by whom we should be guided; therefore

It has been decreed that, by authority of this Council, a school should be set
up comprising all those who print and run printing houses or sell books in any
other way in this city, and it has been ordered to the Provveditori de Comune
that, for this reason and for the good government of that school, and of this
profession, they should proceed to the execution of the above orders and
promulgate any statutes that they consider to be necessary and expedient.

In favour ____________ 14
Against ______________ 0
Not sincere ___________ 1





Translation by: Joanna Kostylo

    

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