Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers

Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers
MottoVerbum Domini Manet in Aeternum
LocationStationers' Hall, London
Date of formation1403 (1403)
Company associationPrinting and publishing
Order of precedence47th
Master of companyPaul Wilson
Websitestationers.org

The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers (until 1937 the Worshipful Company of Stationers), usually known as the Stationers' Company, is one of the livery companies of the City of London.[1] The Stationers' Company was formed in 1403; it received a royal charter in 1557.[2] It held a monopoly over the publishing industry and was officially responsible for setting and enforcing regulations until the enactment of the Statute of Anne, also known as the Copyright Act 1710.[3] Once the company received its charter, "the company's role was to regulate and discipline the industry, define proper conduct and maintain its own corporate privileges."[4]

The company members, including master, wardens, assistants, liverymen, freemen and apprentices are mostly involved with the modern visual and graphic communications industries that have evolved from the company's original trades. These include printing, paper-making, packaging, office products, engineering, advertising, design, photography, film and video production, publishing of books, newspapers and periodicals and digital media. The company's principal purpose nowadays is to provide an independent forum where its members can advance the interests (strategic, educational, training and charitable) of the industries associated with the company.[5]

  1. ^ "Livery Committee: The Worshipful Company of Stationers & Newspaper Makers". Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  2. ^ Blagden, Cyprian. The Stationers' Company: A History, 1403–1959. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1960, p.19
  3. ^ Raven, James (2007). The Business of Books: Booksellers and the English Book Trade 1450–1850. Yale University Press. p. 200. ISBN 9780300181630.
  4. ^ Lyons, Martyn (2011). Books: A Living History. Los Angeles, CA: J. Paul Getty Museum. p. 61.
  5. ^ "About Us". The Stationer's Company.