'At the sygne of the cardynalle's hat' : the book trade and the market for books in Yorkshire, c. 1450-1550
This case study of the production and use of books in Yorkshire in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries has two main aims. The first aim is to investigate the relationship between book production and book ownership in Yorkshire during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Unlike the methodology of this thesis, previous studies have usually studied the book trade and the market for books separately. By focusing on both book production and use, this study shows that it is not usually possible to argue from the evidence of one to the other. In order to comprehend both book trade networks and the reading public they served, it is necessary to investigate them together. The second aim of this thesis is to investigate how the book trade was affected by socio-economic and religious changes, in particular, the early years of the Reformation and the new technology of print. Using the evidence of the franchise register of York and guild ordinances and other sources, I show that speculative book production in York became more important after the advent of print. As a result of the self-protecting activities of the London booksellers and printers, however, by the mid-sixteenth century the York
Gee, Stacey
Reading; Printing; Literacy; Libraries
'At the sygne of the cardynalle's hat' : the book trade and the market for books in Yorkshire, c. 1450-1550. This case study of the production and use of books in Yorkshire in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries has two main aims. The first aim is to investigate the relationship between book production and book ownership in Yorkshire during the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Unlike the methodology of this thesis, previous studies have usually studied the book trade and the market for books separately. By focusing on both book production and use, this study shows that it is not usually possible to argue from the evidence of one to the other. In order to comprehend both book trade networks and the reading public they served, it is necessary to investigate them together. The second aim of this thesis is to investigate how the book trade was affected by socio-economic and religious changes, in particular, the early years of the Reformation and the new technology of print. Using the evidence of the franchise register of York and guild ordinances and other sources, I show that speculative book production in York became more important after the advent of print. As a result of the self-protecting activities of the London booksellers and printers, however, by the mid-sixteenth century the York
hat book_trade market book yorkshire case_study production_use book yorkshire two_main aim first aim_investigate relationship book_production book ownership yorkshire unlike_previous study usually study book_trade market book separately focus book_production use study_show usually possible argue evidence other order comprehend book_trade network read public serve necessary investigate together second_aim investigate book_trade affect socio_economic religious_change particular reformation new_technology print using evidence franchise register york guild ordinance source show speculative book_production york become_important advent print self activity london bookseller printer however york