"THE CENSORSHIP OF PRINTING IS ALMOST AS OLD AS THE INVENTION OF TYPOGRAPHY": THE GROLIER CLUB'S FIRST PUBLICATION

(GROLIER CLUB) Great Britain. Star Chamber. A Decree of Star Chamber Concerning Printing, Made the Eleventh Day of July, 1637. Reprinted by the Grolier Club from the First Edition by Robert Barker. (New York): Grolier Club (pr. by Theodore L. De Vinne & Co., 1884). Octavo, contemporary full purple morocco gilt, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, board corners and dentelles; raised bands, top edge gilt. $3500.

Limited first edition of the first Grolier Club publication, reprinting a landmark historical document regarding freedom of the press, number 38 of only 150 copies designed and printed by founding club member Theodore Low De Vinne, handsomely bound by Bradstreet's.

For its first publication effort, the Grolier Club chose a 1637 Star Chamber decree attempting to regulate printing, calling it "a turning-point in the progress of civil liberty." The decree made it a crime to print "Libellous, Seditious and Mutinous Books… Seditious, Schismatical, or offensive Books or Pamphlets, to the scandal of Religion, or the Church, or the Government, or Governors of the Church and State, or Common-wealth, or of any Corporation, or particular Person or Persons whatsoever," and as the introduction to this attractive printing notes, "no other law in the English statute-book… so plainly shows the futility of meddlesome legislation." The text was reprinted from Robert Barker's original edition, with a facsimile title page; founding club member Robert Hoe is said to have modestly described the resulting book as "a pretty nice specimen of printing." Original gilt-printed wrappers bound in. Main title page with hand-painted club device.

Three interior leaves with minor wine stains, barely affecting text but not readability; main title page with small chip to outer margin. Joints expertly repaired, board extremities with light expert restoration. A beautiful bound copy of this scarce, significant work.