t printers were also editors and booksellers;
but being unable to sell every copy of the works they printed, they had
agents at most of the seats of learning. Antony Koburger, who introduced
the art of printing into Nuremberg in 1470, although a printer, was more
of a bookseller; for, besides his own sixteen shops, we are informed by
his biographers that he had agents for the sale of his books in every
city of Christendom. Wynkyn de Worde, who succeeded to Caxton's press in
Westminster, had a shop in Fleet Street.

The religious dissensions of the continent, and the Reformation in
England under Henry VIII. and Edward VI., created a great demand for
books; but in England neither Tudor nor Stuart could tolerate a free
press, and various efforts were made to curb it. The first patent for
the office of king's printer was granted to Thomas Berthelet by Henry
VIII. in 1529, but only such books as were first licensed were to be
printed. At that time even the purchase or possession of an unlicensed
book was a punishable offence. In 1556 the Company of Stationers was
incorporated, and very extensive powers were granted in order that
obnoxious books might be repressed. In the following reigns the Star
Chamber exercised a pretty effectual censorship; but, in spite of all
precaution, such was the demand for books of a polemical nature, that
many were printed abroad and surreptitiously introduced into England.
Queen Elizabeth interfered but little with books except when they
emanated from Roman Catholics, or touched upon her royal prerogatives;
and towards the end of her reign, and during that of her pedantic
successor, James, bookselling flourished. Archbishop Laud, who was no
friend to booksellers, introduced many arbitrary restrictions; but they
were all, or nearly all, removed during the time of the Commonwealth. So
much had bookselling increased during the Protectorate that, in 1658,
was published _A Catalogue of the most Vendible Books in England,
digested under the heads of Divinity, History, Physic, &c., with School
Books, Hebrew, Greek and Latin, and an Introduction, for the use of
Schools_, by W. London. A bad time immediately followed. The Restoration
also restored the office of Licenser of the Press, which continued till
1694.

In the first English Copyright Act (1709), which specially relates to
booksellers, it is enacted that, if any person shall think the published
price of a book unreasonably high, he may thereupon