Stationers' Hall

Stationers' Hall, the hall of the 'Master and Keepers or Wardens and Commonalty of the Mystery or Art of the Stationers of the City of London.' The Company was incorporated in 1557, and had until the passing of the Copyright Act in 1842 an absolute monopoly, as all printers were obliged to serve an apprenticeship to a member of the Company, and every publication, from a Bible to a ballad, was required to be 'Entered at Stationers' Hall.' This registration is no longer compulsory, but the practice of registering is still useful in making good claims of Copyright (q.v.). The series of registers of books entered for publication, commencing in 1554, is of enormous value in the history of English literature. A transcript of these from 1554 to 1640 has been published by Professor Arber, in 5 vols.