PRIMARY SOURCES

ON COPYRIGHT

(1450-1900)

Free Trade Regulations , Madrid (1762)

Source: Biblioteca Nacional de España; BNE. pages 135-136 from Novísima recopilación de las Leyes de España. (Madrid : [s.n.], 1805-1807) -Signature 1/6722.

Citation:
Free Trade Regulations , Madrid (1762), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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2 translated pages
Chapter 1 Page 1

                              LAW XXIII.
      
            Cárlos III . Royal Order. 14 November
                              1762
      
            Absolute Freedom to sell books without
             the tasa (price) established by the laws of the Kingdom,
                  with the exception of those of essential
                              needs
      
            I have decided to revoke the tasa (price) established
      by the laws of the Kingdom upon the authorisation
      to sell books: and I order that in the future
      books are to be sold with absolute freedom at the price
      in which authors and booksellers wish to sell them,
      because being freedom of commerce
      the Mother of wealth, it will also be so in
      this commerce of books; and, it is also not fair that,
      without any retail prices imposed on foreigners,
      only Spaniards had been discriminated
      by their own laws. However,





Chapter 1 Page 2


      
      taking into account, at the same time,
      that this freedom may cause significant
      damages to the public in relation to
      those books that are essential for the instruction
      and education of people; and considering
      that booksellers could take advantage
      of this basic need to buy them and that their
      greediness could make this situation more
      costly to the public, I have decided, regarding this
      category of books of essential necessity,
      that they are to be subjected to
      the retail price established by the Council
      as it has been until now.
      



Translation by: José Bellido

    

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