Browse Documents By...
Original Language...
Documents For...
Browse Commentaries By...
Browse Referred Persons By...
Venetian Decree on Privileges for New Books and Reprints, Venice (1603)
Source: N/A
Citation:
Venetian Decree on Privileges for New Books and Reprints, Venice (1603), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | No Commentaries
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
are not just corrected, but also printed well, clearly, and legibly:
They are obliged to have a list of errata printed at the end of every new book,
and the name of the Proof-reader in all old and new books.
They are to make use of good and fine paper that must be of a weight pro-
portionate to the quality of the books, which are to be printed as determined by the
aforesaid Reformatori, whereby the paper must not be soaked in any way, in
accordance with this Council's Decree of 1537.
And under all the other penalties specified in the resolution adopted by this
Council on 20th February of this year, both the matriculated guild members and non-
matriculated persons who exercise this Art must not dare to leave themselves, or lead
astray anyone else who belongs to the Guild, in order to go to work outside of this
City, nor should they either carry out of it any materials or instruments of whatsoever
kind which have to do with Printing.
And so that it is possible to recognise in time and forestall any transgressions
which are being committed in this profession, but especially to ensure compliance
with what is decreed here, it has been resolved that the Prior and Adjuncts [Compagni]
of the Banca* of Printers and Booksellers must go around frequently, observing and
keeping an eye on how the present legislation is being implemented, and at least
every three months they must appear before the Reformatori to report any violations
which they may have happened to find out about, so that you might make such
arrangements as are demanded by so important a matter as the one in question. The
Reformatori must have in this the same authority, as was granted to them by the
aforesaid resolution of 20 February last, concerning attempts to entice away [from
Venice] artisans employed in the printing profession, and using the fines which they
may have to impose, they are, at their own discretion, to assess the loss of labour
and money which the aforesaid Prior and Adjuncts are understood to have
suffered [in the exercise of their obligations to inspect their colleagues]; however,
anyone is entitled to denounce whosoever should violate any of the afore-
mentioned Statutes, whereby he has the guarantee that his denunciation will be
kept secret and that he will receive 25 ducats from the assets of the offenders.
Those persons who are not matriculated, but would like to have any book
printed in this City must, in order that the contract [with a local printer] should
be valid, for each bale of ten reams pay eight grossi to the aforesaid Guild,
whereby the latter agrees to bear all the expenses and obligations of rowing
the galleys [gravezza de' Galeotti] which are not discharged by these persons.
As for those who are matriculated in the aforesaid Guild and who print afresh
_______
*) The presidency of the Guild of Printers and Booksellers.
No Transcription available.
Source: N/A
Citation:
Venetian Decree on Privileges for New Books and Reprints, Venice (1603), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | No Commentaries
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
are not just corrected, but also printed well, clearly, and legibly:
They are obliged to have a list of errata printed at the end of every new book,
and the name of the Proof-reader in all old and new books.
They are to make use of good and fine paper that must be of a weight pro-
portionate to the quality of the books, which are to be printed as determined by the
aforesaid Reformatori, whereby the paper must not be soaked in any way, in
accordance with this Council's Decree of 1537.
And under all the other penalties specified in the resolution adopted by this
Council on 20th February of this year, both the matriculated guild members and non-
matriculated persons who exercise this Art must not dare to leave themselves, or lead
astray anyone else who belongs to the Guild, in order to go to work outside of this
City, nor should they either carry out of it any materials or instruments of whatsoever
kind which have to do with Printing.
And so that it is possible to recognise in time and forestall any transgressions
which are being committed in this profession, but especially to ensure compliance
with what is decreed here, it has been resolved that the Prior and Adjuncts [Compagni]
of the Banca* of Printers and Booksellers must go around frequently, observing and
keeping an eye on how the present legislation is being implemented, and at least
every three months they must appear before the Reformatori to report any violations
which they may have happened to find out about, so that you might make such
arrangements as are demanded by so important a matter as the one in question. The
Reformatori must have in this the same authority, as was granted to them by the
aforesaid resolution of 20 February last, concerning attempts to entice away [from
Venice] artisans employed in the printing profession, and using the fines which they
may have to impose, they are, at their own discretion, to assess the loss of labour
and money which the aforesaid Prior and Adjuncts are understood to have
suffered [in the exercise of their obligations to inspect their colleagues]; however,
anyone is entitled to denounce whosoever should violate any of the afore-
mentioned Statutes, whereby he has the guarantee that his denunciation will be
kept secret and that he will receive 25 ducats from the assets of the offenders.
Those persons who are not matriculated, but would like to have any book
printed in this City must, in order that the contract [with a local printer] should
be valid, for each bale of ten reams pay eight grossi to the aforesaid Guild,
whereby the latter agrees to bear all the expenses and obligations of rowing
the galleys [gravezza de' Galeotti] which are not discharged by these persons.
As for those who are matriculated in the aforesaid Guild and who print afresh
_______
*) The presidency of the Guild of Printers and Booksellers.
No Transcription available.