Book Commerce, Litigation and the Art of Monopoly: The Case of Agnes Campbell, Royal Printer, 1676-1712

Journal of Scottish Historical Studies

Volumn 18, Issue 2, 1998, Pages 132-156

  Mann, Alastair ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS   (United Kingdom)

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EID: 84882499371     PISSN: 1748538X     EISSN: 17551749     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3366/sesh.1998.18.2.132     Document Type: Note

References (62)

1. See, for example, for the modern period E. Gordon, Women and the Labour Movement in Scotland, 1850-1914 (Oxford, 1991); E. Gordon and E. Breitenbach (eds.), The World is Ill-Divided: Women’s work in Scotland in the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries (Edinburgh, 1990); Christopher A. Whatley 'Women and the Economic Transformation of Scotland c.l 740-18305 14 (1994), and for printing, Sian Reynolds, Britannica^ Typesetters: Women Compositors in Edwardian Edinburgh (Edinburgh, 1989); for the early modern period see the important summary article by R. A. Houston, 'Women in the economy and society of Scotland, 1500-1800\ in R.A. Houston and I. D. Whyte (eds.), Scottish Society 1500-1800 (Cambridge, 1989); an essential starting point for the eighteenth century is Elizabeth C. Sanderson, Women and Work in Eighteenth-Centuiy Edinburgh (London, 1996) and more generally Elizabeth Ewan and Maureen Meikle (eds.), Women in Scotland, 1100-1750 (Edinburgh, 1998) a forthcoming volume of essays.
2. For example, Whatley 'Women' and also T Devine (ed.), Farm Servants and Labour in Lowland Scotland, 1770-1914 (Edinburgh, 1984), a collection of essays with much useful detail on women and their work.
3. Fbr general reflection on women in Scotland's early modern book trade see Alastair J. Mann, Tmbroidery to Enterprise: The role of women in the book trade of early modern Scotland5 in Ewen and Meikle (eds.) Women in Scotland. Fbr a study of the trade in its entirety see Alastair J. Mann, ‘The Book Trade and Public Policy in Early Modern Scotland, cl500-cl720, (unpublished PhD, University of Stirling, 1997).
4. R. A. Houston, Social Change in the Age of Enlightenment, Edinburgh 1660-1760(Oxford, 1994), p78.
5. The dates given indicate known activity years for these women.
6. Our main sources for her life are John Fairley Agnes Campbell, Lady Roseburn: Relict of Andrew Anderson:A Contribution to the History of printing in Scotland (Aberdeen, 1925); James Watson, TheHisUnyof the Art of Printing (1713), preface pp. 10-24; and the manuscript history of George Chalmers, An Historical Account of Printing in Scotland5 (c.1825) NLS. Adu MSS. 17.1.16. 270r-276v. She adopted the title Lady Roseburn from 1704, having acquired property to the north west of Edinburgh.
7. For Scottish early modern copyright see Mann, (The Book Trade and Public Policy', 167222. There is no other recent account of Scottish copyright as it existed before the unifying British Statute of Anne of 1709/10 and legal and book historians have been obsessed with the Anglo-Scottish copyright controversies of the eighteenth century For accessible English details from excellent American historiography see Mark Rose, Authors and Owners: The Invention of Co暂right (Harvard, 1993) and Lyman Ray Patterson, Copyright in Historical Perspective (Nashville, 1968).
8. For extracts from her will and testament see Bannatyne Miscellany, II. pp. 284-9 and for the entirety and of her grandchildren Commissary Court Records, Scottish Record Office [hereafter SRO] CC. 8.8.86 (10 July, 1676) and 112.1. (28 October, 1748); for Andrew Anderson, Bannatyne Miscella吩 II. pp. 282-284 and SRO, CC. 8.8.75 (18 August, 1676).
9. For the control of the book trade by the Scottish burghs see Mann, 'The Book Trade and Public Policy\ 16-28.
10. Register of Privy Council [RPC\, third series, V pp. 441-2. See list in supplication from her workmen for exemption from warding and watching, dated 16 April, 1678. The list includes Patrick Ramsey and John Reid.
11. SRO, CC. 8.8.86 333r-336V Note the following wealthy book traders, their estate values and their percentage debtors: Andro Hart (d. 1621), 09,528, 4.5%; Robert Bryson (d.1645), £22,000, 13.5%; and James Watson, the younger (d. 1722), £32,499,11.5%, Bannatyne Miscellany, IL pp. 241-9; 263-7; 277-9 and SRO, CC. 8.8.88 (19, December, 1722). For the indebtedness of over ninety book traders see Mann, 'The Book Trade and Public Policy1, ii, appendix iii,
12. For a summary of family details see Fairley Agnes Campbell, pp. 4-6; 14-19.
13. J.D. Marwick (ed) Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow, 1630-62 (1881), pp. 248-9.
14. Fairley, Agnes Campbell pp. 39-40; SRO, CS. 29. box.436.1 (Mackenzie) 20 January, 1713; Fairley, Agnes Campbell, pp. 30-31. Campbell also took steps to protect herself from Telfer's creditors as early as January 1682. See Sir John Lauder of Fbuntainhall, The Decisions of the Lords of Council and Session JromJune 6th 1678 tojufy 30th 1712 2 vols. (Edinburgh, 1759-1761) i.pp. 168-9.
15. A more recent sympathetic, ifbrief； assessment is provided by Rosalind K. Marshall in Virgins and Viragos: A History of Women in Scotlandjrom 1080-1980 (London, 1983), pp. 156-7 and Rosalind K. Marshall, Women in Scotland, 1660-1780 (Edinburgh, 1979), p. 53.
16. Dr. John Lee, Memorial jbr the Bible Societies in Scotland (Edinburgh, 1824), pp. 160-169; G. Chalmers, 'Historical Account5, 190r, 270r-276v; James Chalmers, MSS 'Materials' for An Historical Account of printing in Scotland from 1507 to 1707', 2. vols (cl845). NLS. AdvMSS 16.2.21 and 22. For heirs of Anderson the latter as well as WJ. Couper, James Watson, King's Printer； SHR VII(1910), pp. 253-8, Couper/The Pretenders Printer' SHR、XV(1917),pp. 107-10; and Couper (ed.), watson’s Preface to the (History of Printing，1713 (Edinburgh, 1913).
17. Watson, History pp. 11-12; Couper, James Watson1 np. 261; G. Chalmers, historical Account', 190r; Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall, Historical Notices of Scottish Affairs, 1661-1688,2. vols. (Edinburgh, 1848), II. p. 866; I. p. 393 and Fbuntainhall's Decisions, I. p. 205.
18. Fairley Agnes Campbell, passim, but especially p. 38 for General Assembly
19. Acts of Parliament of Scotland [JP5], VIII. pp. 206-7. c,147. and Lee, Memorials appendix no. xxvii, pp. 56-61.
20. SRO, PC. 1.52, 199-201 Acts of Secret Council 14 March, 1701; Lee, Memorials appendix, xxix, pp. 63-66.
21. For details of Roger L, Estrange see John Feather, A History of British Book publishing (London, 1988), pp. 52-55 and J. Walker, 'The censorship of the Press During the Reign of Charles II' History 25(1950), pp. 219-238.
22. RPC, III. pp. 423-5, James MacLehose, The Glasgow University Press 1638-1931 (Glasgow, 1931),p. 83.
23. MSS Records of Aberdeen Town Council \ACR\i LV 262-3; J.R Edmond, The Aberdeen Printers, 1620 to 1736、4 vols. (Aberdeen, 1884), IV p. xlvi.
24. RPC, III. pp. 596-599; SRO, RD.2. 41.228 (Durie) (26 February; 1676).
25. Historical Notices, I. p. 311; RPC, VII. p. 257; SRO, C.3.10. no.343 Registrum Magni Sigilli (paper; reg.); for the appeal which was concluded in January 1683, FbuntainhalFs Decisions y I. p. 205 and Historical Notices, I.p. 393.
26. Lee, Memorials p. 146; RPC, XII. pp. 460-1: Fbuntainhairs Decisions, I. p. 424; for Bruce RPC, XIH. p.xx.
27. The petition of January 1704 was made by the printers George Jaflrey; Andrew Sympson, John Reid, senior, John Reid, junior, and Watson. Maitland Club Miscellany II. pp. 236-9; Couper, James Watson', p. 254; Helen Armet (ed.),ExtraclsJrom the Records of the Burgh of Edinburgh 1701-1718 (1969) \EBR\, p. 63 for original town council decision of 29 October, 1703 which was, in any case, a response to pressure from the Privy Council.
28. A useful summary of these details is to be found in Couper; James Watson5, pp. 255-259 though the Court of Session records provide much more.
29. For the three party agreement see SRO, C.3.15 no.388 Registrum Magni Sigilli (paper register) and Lee, Memorials appendix, no.xxx. pp. 66-69. Fbr papers of case before the Court of Session SRO, CS.29. box.436.1 (Mackenzie).
30. Journal of the House of Lords, XI. 609-10. Appeal 14-15 February verdict 15 February Couper, James Watson’ p257. Plomer entirely miscasts the ruling of the House of Lords as a victory for Baskett and defeat fbr Watson. Henry R. Plomer; A Dictionary of.the Printers and Booksellers Who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1668 to 1725 (Oxford, 1922), p. 23.
31. Some useful comments on Scotland are to be found in Christine MacLeod, Inventing the Industrial Revolution: The English Patent Astern, 1660-1800 (Cambridge, 1988), pp. 8-9.
32. Edinburgh Council Archives, Moses Bundles. [MB], 67, 3043. (22 June, 1676); RPC, V pp. 46-7; RPC, Vpp. 141-2, though Campbell's claim of £20,000 damages, half for the crown, was not permitted.
33. FountainhalFs Decisions, I. p. 104; RPC, VII. pp. 3-4; ibid. pp. 31-32; RPC, VIII. pp. 250-51; Historical Notices^ II. pp. 464-5; RPQ VIII. p. 410 for Mackenzie patent from 18 March, 1684 which was published the same year; RPC, XVI. pp. 571-2 and 585.
34. SRO, CS.29. box. 443.(Mackenzie). Case 10 August, 1714, Tetition, of apprentices dated 20 September, 1714 and eventual appeal 25 June, 1715.
35. FbuntainhalFs Decisions^ IL pp. 13-14.
36. SRO,CC 8.8.86,336r. James Erskine of Grange., fbr two years… £666'. Robert Dalrymple, writer to the signet, was also one of her tenants.
37. The only comprehensive account of almanac printing is William R. McDonald, 'Scottish Seventeenth-Century Almanacs5 The Bibliotheck, IV, prtl.8, 1966. pp. 257-322.
38. Fbuntainhall,s Decisionsy I. p. 273; Aberdeen Council Letters (1924-61) IV pp. 321-2; ACR, LV 58-61; Extractsfrom the Records of the Burgh of.Aberdeen, [AB用,II. pp. 245-6; Edmond, Aberdeen Printers, IV p. xlv
39. Fbr a summary of counterfeit almanacs see McDonald, Almanacs', pp. 269-276; RPC, VIII. p. 384; FbuntainhalFs Decisions, I. pp. 273 and 276 although it should be noted that Lauder's account of the decision, where Fbrbes was stopped from printing as well, is at variance with the Privy Council record and Forbes's own account.
40. Fbr Man see EBR, XII. p. 188. McDonald, Almanacs’ pp. 276-9.
41. RPC, X. p. 16; EBR, XI. p. 128; for Watson, the elder, RPC, XII. pp. 460-1 and Historical Notices, II. p. 751 and for the Privy CounciPs lack of interest in compensation for Watson due to breaches in his right over almanacs, RPC, XIII. p. 201-2; Bruce RPC, XIII. p. xx; EBR、XII. p. 188 (17 January 1696).
42. Lee. Memorials pp. 149. RPC, XV pp. 557,558.
43. Robert Wodrow, The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland from the Restoration to the Evolution (1721-2)(1828 edition), II. p. 122.
44. For details of the banned New Testament case of 1671 see RPC, iii. pp. 265, 292, 682. The complaint was first made by James Sharp, Archbishop of St. Andrews. See letter Alexander Bruce, second earl of Kincardine, to the earl of Lauderdale dated 12 January; Hist. MSS, Commission. 72. Laing MSS. I. p. 380. All the details relating to bible editions are taken from analysing the Harry G. Aldis catalogue, A List of Books printed in Scotland Before 7 7^ (revised, London, 1970).
45. SRO, CH 1.1.18, 521. Records of the General Assembly, 1702-8 (27 April, 1708); Plomer, Dictionaiy, p. 212; Lee, Memorials pp. 168, 187-193; Fairley, Agnes Campbell, p. 38.
46. MacLehose, Glasgow pp. 51-51; APS, VI, ii, 828b (July 1644 customs exemption of printer to the king). The best account of the Scottish paper industry is A.G. Thomson's, The Paper Industry in Scotland, 7590-/(Edinburgh, 1974).
47. APS, VII, c26. 467; 560a; cl 15. 655.
48. MacLehose, Glasgow^ pp. 51-2; For The Petition of the Booksellers of Edinburgh for themselves and the rest of the Booksellers of the Kingdom, 1688' See Laing MSS, Chalmers Papers, University of Edinburgh, division II. no. 448.
49. Maitland Club, Miscellany, II. pp. 245-7. They were arrested 25 June, 1705. Couper, James Watson', pp. 250-1; SRO, PC. 1.52, 114-117 Acta Secret Council (25 June, 1700).
50. SRO, Clerk Muniments. GDI8. 889, 1317, 1320, 1323; G. Chambers, ^Historical Account', 276v; Thomson, The Paper Industry, p. 120; Fairley, Agnes Campbell, p. 54, Edinburgh Council Minutes MSS 21 February 1729.
51. MacLehose, Glasgow, p. 53; John Macfarlane, 'The paper Duties of 1696-1713: Their Effect on the Printing and Allied Trades', The Library (1900). The criticism ofBaskett comes from a petition of 1711 entitled 'The Case of the manufacturers of Paper, the Stationers, Printers etc… relating to several Duties on Paper and Printing, now Voted in the House. Humbly represented to the Honourable House of Commons5 cited by Macfarlane, pp. 36-7.
52. For details on paper and book duties see Mann, 'The Book Trade and Pubilc Policy5,239-244.
53. RPC, VI. pp. 418-9; Lee, Memorials p. 132 and 叩pendix. no.xxvi. pp. 52-57.
54. For Sanders see Gemeentearchief Amsterdam [GAA], Notarial Archive, GAA NA. 4779. 101-2 (8 and 15 March, 1679). Lee, Memorials, pp. 131-2.
55. Watson's History p. 16; Historical Notices, II. p, 866; Fountainhall's Decisions, I. p496.
56. Lee, Memorials pp. 160-3; Fairley; Agnes Campbell, pp. 23-26. Although in this case it was the Forbes block which had the crack - Sander's fake of the Aberdeen coat of arms was too good!
57. Hist. MSS Commission, 17. House of Lords, 1.1678-85. no.498. p. 274. Affidavit dated 5Ju% 1684.
58. J.W Stoye, English Travels Abroad, 7 ^-7^7 (London, 1952), pp. 256-7; PG. Hoftijzer, Engelse boekverkopers by de beurs: Degeschiedenis van deAmslerdamse boekhandels Bruyningen Swart (Amsterdam, 1987), p. 110.
59. For example,Ecclesiastical Records of Presbyteries of St Andrews and Cupar, 1641-1698, Cupar Presbytery Records (Abbotsford, 1837). p. 105; St. Andrews Presbytery Records MSS [SRO, CH. 2.1132.1],1705-13,12andEdinburghPresbyteryRecordsMSS, [SRO,CH. 2.121.6]. 1705-8,2078. For late payment by the Edinburgh magistrates see EBR, XIII. p. 309 (15 February, 1716).
60. For a discussion of women's right to trade see Sanderson, Women and Work in Eighteenth-Centuiy Edinburgh, 7-16.
61. SRO, SR. 96.1.112, papers dated 30 July 1687 concerning Lindsay v Van Solingen. According to Watson, his own father acquired the press in 1685, Watson, History, pp. 15-16; R. A. Houston, 'Literacy Education and the Culture of Print in Enlightenment Edinburgh,, History 78(October 1993), p. 380. SRO, Privy Seal (English Register), PS.3.2.493 and NRA(S). 2383. (Broun-Lindsay of Colstoun) section 3, 28-9.
62. Steve Hare (ed.), Allen Lane and the Paquin Editors (1995), pp. 248-9.