The book trade and public policy in early modern Scotland c.1500-c.1720
Few historians would question the importance of national literature to the understanding of national history. Less frequently, especially in Scottish history, is equal attention given to the print medium. Publishing and the book trade represent a complex cocktail of conscience and commerce, of ideology and industry, and one of the tensions within the study of publishing, especially in the turmoil of the early modern period, is the assessment of motive underpinning the act of publication. Two objectives are sought in this research of the book trade of Scotland c1500 to c1720. The degree, scale, structure and financial basis of the book trade are considered. In particular, data obtained from a large number of existing and new references to individual booksellers and printers has been accumulated in order to establish the extent, development, and general pattern of commerce. Secondly, the interaction of public policy and the book trade is explored with separate chapters on the policy of the burghs, the church and the government. As part of government control close scrutiny is given to the law of publishing with chapters devoted to copyright and censorship, two themes for which adequate Scottish study is long
Mann, Alastair
Book industries and trade Scotland 16th century ; Book industries and trade Scotland 17th century ; Book industries and trade Scotland 18th century
The book trade and public policy in early modern Scotland c.1500-c.1720. Few historians would question the importance of national literature to the understanding of national history. Less frequently, especially in Scottish history, is equal attention given to the print medium. Publishing and the book trade represent a complex cocktail of conscience and commerce, of ideology and industry, and one of the tensions within the study of publishing, especially in the turmoil of the early modern period, is the assessment of motive underpinning the act of publication. Two objectives are sought in this research of the book trade of Scotland c1500 to c1720. The degree, scale, structure and financial basis of the book trade are considered. In particular, data obtained from a large number of existing and new references to individual booksellers and printers has been accumulated in order to establish the extent, development, and general pattern of commerce. Secondly, the interaction of public policy and the book trade is explored with separate chapters on the policy of the burghs, the church and the government. As part of government control close scrutiny is given to the law of publishing with chapters devoted to copyright and censorship, two themes for which adequate Scottish study is long
book_trade public_policy early_modern scotland historian would question importance national literature national_history less_frequently especially scottish_history equal attention_give print medium publishing book_trade represent complex conscience commerce ideology industry tension_within study publishing especially turmoil early_modern_period assessment motive underpinning act publication objective seek book_trade scotland degree scale structure financial basis book_trade consider particular data_obtain large_number exist new reference individual bookseller printer accumulate order_establish extent development general pattern commerce secondly interaction public_policy book_trade explore separate policy burgh church_government part government control close_scrutiny give law publishing devote censorship two_theme adequate scottish study long