LIBRARY

The Stationers’ Company Library was created to:

• Support research on the Archives
• Showcase or manifest the Company’s history and heritage
• Support the Company’s broader charitable aims.

History

Although the Company has been involved with the licensing of books, the regulation of the book trade and some direct selling of books since its foundation, it has never had the resources or the remit to keep copies of all the books its members published. Its printed book collection has grown up mostly during the last hundred years or so, largely by gift and partly by purchase, and much of it comprises twentieth-century books relating to the history of the book, paper and newspaper trades, and the history of London and its other livery companies. A focused effort to build a reference library in these areas was begun in the 1970s but it was never possible to develop it systematically. The Company celebrates and preserves its heritage, but it cannot compete with other organizations which are better placed to deliver research libraries in book history, nor is that part of its mission.

17th century binding showing the Stationers' Company coat of arms

Contents

The Company’s Library comprises:

• A collection of ca. 3000 books, ca.1900-2020, relating to core aspects of the Company’s history: printing, typography and design, publishing, newspaper history, papermaking, the history of London and other livery companies
• A collection of ca.300 pre-1900 imprints, from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, acquired mostly by gift. They include a long run of printed almanacs, 1620-1923, and miscellaneous books on history, theology, literature and other subjects.

The post-1900 books are mostly kept in the glass-fronted bookcases in the Link Corridor and the third floor meeting rooms, where they are readily visible. Earlier material is stored in the Tokefield Centre alongside the Archives, in suitably secure and environmentally controlled conditions. Historical material is selectively displayed in the Hall from time to time to help to illustrate the Company’s role in the book trade.

Frontispiece of John and Richard Day's Book of Christian Prayers,  known as Queen Elizabeth's prayer-book

Access

Limited access is available to:

• Members of the Stationers’ Company
• Members of the public with a demonstrable need to access material not easily available elsewhere

Access is by arrangement with the Hon Librarian, who may be contacted at librarian@stationers.org.

At present, there is no catalogue available for consultation.

Title page of A New Almanacke and prognostication … practised, penned and published by Ieffery Neue, 1620 printed for the Company of Stationers

Additions and Donations

The Library has limited storage space, which is largely full with the existing holdings. As a matter of policy, it was decided in 2020 that further items will be added only if they fit very clearly under the defined purposes, and we are not in a position to accept donations of modern published material which is easily findable elsewhere. Anyone wishing to offer items is welcome to  contact the Hon Librarian, but it is only likely to be accepted if it can add unique value to the collection. However, the Company does welcome offers of older publications which can help in showcasing history and heritage.