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9 translated pages

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      RULES FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT
            of the Printers and Book Merchants'
            Guild in Madrid
            on the 24th day of July
            of this year 1763.
      
      
      Printers and book merchants, having
      known the Royal Judgment of 22
      March of this year which, including
      other aids that his piety deigned to grant
      for developing the Art of the Press and
      Book Trade, which is so fragile in these
      kingdoms, and which foreigners have
      enjoyed up until now; and having
      abolished all the privileges that
      regular and secular communities
      have enjoyed to date, which are said
      to be mortmain, therefore the art and
      book trade is to be restored. And as
      we want to contribute so that Your
      Worship's pious ends
                              A                              
      

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2       have an effect and from we hope for       further graces with which we can en-       courage printers and develop this trade,       and the public can benefit from better       prints and moderate prices: both       interested parties have agreed to       establish a guild supporting and       taking this trade forward in accordance with       the following rules:                                      FIRST              This guild will accept all printers       and book merchants from these       kingdoms, who have their own       press and public bookshop and       officials from both arts who would       like to be interested in trading and       printing that until now have been       halted by privileges granted to       communities or mortmain,       abolished now by the said       Royal Order of 22 March 1763. This       Order releases other books so that       each of these printers and book mer-       chants may print them with the

3       necessary licences; and authors may       print the works they write for their       account. The guild has the right and       faculty to make a first offer for the       privilege, that they pass to any individual,       as it is granted by Your Worship to the       printers, who then give it to the guild.                                      II.              That this guild must not be only limited       to printing the books for which Your       Worship has abolished privileges, by       extending printing to all Spanish authors       that hitherto have been introduced by       foreigners, in order to avoid withdrawing       fortunes. May your Royal spirit be verified       by this art and trade flourishing within       your domains. In mutual agreement with       other officials from this guild, the Director       should select the books to be printed,       maintaining plurality votes, and for this       purpose, both interested groups should       appoint two representatives, who run for       such election.                                      A2                              III

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4                         III.              That every share of this guild       must occupy one thousand five       hundred reales of parchment,       so that those with less wealth,       may also become interested. A period       of four months counted from the day       this guild is constituted is given to       them and after that time, they shall       not be admitted.                                      IV.              That the owners cannot take out       of these shares and they can only       concede or sell them after advising       beforehand who wants them for       their fund. Therefore, this must be       referenced, otherwise the requirement       will be void for its sale.                                      V.              That, as the book trade is vast       due to the amount of works that       can be printed from all faculties,

5       and for which it is necessary to spend       large amounts of resources, and       because some printers do not       have sufficient enough at the present       time to become suddenly interested       in this guild; and as the purpose of the       guild is to develop a framework for       everyone to earn the profit it produces,       so they are not excluded from it,       undoubtedly they shall receive a discount       on the works for which they are       commissioned, (made to the Directors'       satisfaction) up to the capital of eight       shares, which they must settle in full       within one year. If this is not reimbursed,       they shall give them in shares for whatever       they have accrued. They have another alter-       native, which is to settle whatever remains       in money.                                      VI.              That the printers mentioned who are       interested in this guild and entrust it with       a work, as they are in this court, they must       settle on a weekly basis the sheets       they deliver to chapels, according to the       adjustment of each,

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who must leave at least a quarter of       the amount for the discount of the       shares in which they are interested.       The rest will be paid internally by the       bookkeeper for payment to the       treasurer, and on completing the work,       the directors shall dispatch one from       the total, gathering precedents, for good       account and reasons. In addition,       printers from other cities of the kingdom,       to whom a work has also been entrusted       in order to satisfy the shares they are       interested in, they should send samples       of the letters and paper upon which       they want their printing. They must pay       for this in full and they cannot have it       without an order from the Directors,       who reside in this court.                                      VII.              That on completion of the printing of       any book, the directors must accept it       before releasing it from the press; and       having done this and finding it to be       acceptable, the shareholders shall be       notified so that each one can take out       what they need, paying the amount to

7       the treasurer, who shall issue a receipt       (harebuenos) for the amount       to the printer. He shall hand it to the       bookkeeper. These shall constitute the       treasurer's charge and the printer may use       them as data.                                      VIII.              That book merchants, who are suddenly       not interested in paying with money, may       equally pay eight shares, which they give       to the printers by the way of the books they       have printed, and which can be dispatched       if they are to the Directors' satis-       faction.                                      IX.              That the books this guild prints must be       on fine paper, capelladas or similar paper,       (following your worship's order) and       the best (quality of) printing, which shall       be distributed among the shareholders,       according to what each one customarily       requests.                               A4

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8       What the book merchants' guild       has printed hitherto, must be       organized practically as it is       abolished from the day the guild       was started.                                      X.              For governing this guild, five directors,       a bookkeeper, secretary, treasurer, and       warehouse keeper must be appointed       for both groups. The directors are in       charge of applying for licences, purcha-       sing paper, adjusting the printing,       and throwing away sheets, and other       trade-related matters. The bookkeeper       shall do the accounts, and according to       purchases and adjustments, make the       drafts, take note of them, and calculate       the annual accounts. The secretary is in       charge of the correspondence with       the interested parties outside the court,       as agreed with the directors; write the       agreements in their books,       en los Libros de ellos, and take custody       of the papers belonging to this guild.       The treasurer shall perceive the funds,       and deliver the amounts by virtue of       payments signed by two directors,

9       and once the bookkeeper has noted       them, they shall be issued and receipts       shall be given for the books that are       finished, so the printers can deliver       them. The warehouse keeper shall       perceive and take custody of the books       that are left over after distributing them       among the shareholders, and sell       them in paper by the dozen at the       acceptable prices indicated to him, and       deliver the produce monthly to the       treasurer, taking the relevant receipt       for this and annually submitting his       accounts to the bookkeeper.                                      XI.              That as it is necessary to print many       books for Your Worship has abolished       their privileges and for which we hope       you will grant us your Royal piety for       better developing this art and trade,       and for which large amounts of funds       are required, which printers and book       merchants of this guild cannot suddenly       put together, due to the current       economic situation;

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10       it would be convenient if you could       support this huge enterprise by taking       a maximum three per cent interest.       This amount of money is necessary for       guaranteeing the security of the shares       of all interested parties. This would give       the directors the relevant powers for it.                                      XII.              That in order to know the economic       situation of this trade, an annual       sample shall be taken of everything       that has been printed, its product and       the printing utensils and devices, and       every three years, an interested parties'       general meeting shall be held to show       the progress and usefulness that have       ocurred, and if applicable, these shall .       be divided.                                      XIII.              That the absent interested parties of       this guild may delegate and give power       to any of the interested parties in this       court, and to on one else, so he may       vote at the general meetings.

11                               XIV. That for the present time, and until the first General Meeting is held, none of the directors, bookkeper, secretary, treasurer, and warehouse keeper shall not perceive any salary. They will be given a gratification for their work, according to the (economic) worth they have produced in three years. The esta- blishment will regulate this; and by the rule, this will continue hereinafter, as a stimulus for other directors and officials who will follow in the future.                                      XV.        That at the interested parties' general meeting, the directors and the rest of employees can be changed, by plurality votes. If some consider it suitable for the progress of the guild to change anyone, the person elected should be selected from practical and intelligent persons in this trade, proven and skilful for management, and interested in this guild.

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12       I hereby certify that having informed       of the content of these fifteen chapters       chapters, or preceding rules, for the       good government of this guild, they       are read aloud twice, in an intelligible       voice in my presence, all in mutual       agreement, and having voiced their       approval, they asked me, the notary       present, to insert them in this deed       which they obliged, and obliged       everyone interested in the shares of       this guild, to keep and guard them.       They must be complied with in full,       and by everyone, as contained in each       and everyone of them, granting by       concession the corresponding powers       paper purchases, printing adjustments,       engraving sheets, and stamping them,       preferential right to buy privileges, and       whatever it is necessary for the       management and trade of this guild,       with the special power and faculty,       required by law, that could and should       be sufficient to prepare a census of the       amount of maravedís necessary for       printing and purchasing paper, or       books

13       deemed appropriate for the increased       stock and trade of this guild, not ex-       ceeding their incomes by three per cent,       which they can grant for the deed,       compulsory deeds in favour of the       person or persons giving it, whether       secular or regular communitie. They       will be obliged; as we oblige them by       this document, for the capital of all the       shares of the interested parties in this       guild, with the prints and privileges       they have and will have hereinafter,       without any restrictions whatsoever,       etc.

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14       APPOINTMENTS TO GOVERN                   this guild:                          DIRECTORS,       Mr. Francisco Manuel de Mena, empo-             wered by both communities.       Mr. Antonio Sanz, empowered by             both communities.       Mr. Alfonso Martin de la Higuera.       Mr. Manuel Lopez de Bustamante.       Mr. Francisco Fernandez.                          BOOKKEEPERS       Mr. Manuel de Pinto.       Mr. Antonio Piferrer.                          SECRETARIES,       Mr. Valentin Frances.       Mr. Antonio Perez de Soto.                          TREASURER,       Mr. Angel Corradi.                          WAREHOUSE KEEPER       Mr. Juan de Esparza.                          MEETING DEPUTIES       Mr. Bernardo Albera.       Mr. Gabriel Ramirez.

15       Dear Sir, At the general       meeting held on the twenty-       fourth of July this year, the two       printers and book merchants'       communities of this court       granted a public deed up to       forty-eight individuals, by which       they constituted a guild under       the above chapters for the purpose       as stated. At the same act, they       appointed directors and other       officials for its government, and       I was appointed as the secretary,       in compliance with what is       stated in the first chapter. The       management have ordered me       to notify Your Worship, who       will

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      16
      
      advise me of its receipt and
      indicate how many shares are
      of your interest, the capital of
      which should be given to Mr. Ángel
      Corradi, the treasurer appointed by
      the guild, within four months. This
      finalizes on 25th November this
      year.
      
      May God protect Your Worship
      many years, as we desire, Madrid,
      5 August 1763.
      
      
      
                                    B.L.M de Vmd.
      
      
      
                                    Valentin Francès.
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      Mr. Antonio Muñoz del Valle




Translation by: Kay Leach