Licensing of the Press Act 1662

IX. No Person to erect a Printing Press or House, or let Premises for Printing, without giving Notice to the Stationers' Company.

No Carpenter, &c. to make a Printing Press, or cast Letters, nor import Letters; without first acquainting Stationers' Company.; Penalty.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no^r person or persons within the City of London or the Liberties thereof or elsewhere shall erect or cause to be erected any Presse or Printing House nor shall knowingly demise or let or willingly suffer to be held or used any House Vault Cellar or other Room whatsoever to or by any person or persons for a Printing House or Place to print in unlesse he or they who erect such Presse or shall so knowingly demise or let such House Cellar Vault or Room or willingly suffer the same to be used shall first give notice to the Master or Wardens of the said Company of Stationers for the time being of the erecting of such Presse or of such demise or suffering to worke or print in such House Vault Cellar or Room And that no Joyner Carpenter or other person shall make any Printing Presse no Smith shall forge any Iron worke for a Printing Presse no Founder shall cast any Letters which may be used for printing for any person or persons whatsoever neither shall any person or persons bring or cause to be brought in from any parts beyond the Seas any Letters founded or cast nor shall buy any such Letters for printing Printing Presses or other Materials belonging unto printing unlesse he or they respectively shall first acquaint the said Master and Wardens of the said Company of Stationers for the time being or some or one of them for whom the same Presses Iron Worke or Letters are to be made forged cast brought or imported upon pain that every person who shall erect any such Printing Press or shall demise or let any House or Room or suffer the same to be held or used and every person who shall make any Printing Press or any Iron worke for a Printing Presse or shall make import or buy any Letters for printing without giving notice as aforesaid shall forfeit for every such offence the suo[m]m of Five pounds the one Moyety whereof shall be to the use of our Soveraign Lord the King His Heires and Successors and the other Moyety to the use of such person or persons as shall sue for the same