SION COLLEGE LIBRARY

Books brought in to Sion College Library from Stationers' Hall'. Lists of books acquired by Sion College Library between 1789 and 1803 under its copyright privilege. The lists record the batches of books received from Stationers' Hall at Michaelmas and Lady Day each year. Within each list books in sheets, in boards, sewn or stitched, as well as music books, are recorded separately. In the hand of Robert Watts, Assistant in Sion College Library from 1785 and Librarian 1799-1842.The privilege was held under the Copyright Act which came into force in 1710. The privilege was removed in 1836 (in exchange for an annual sum in compensation) by the Act of 6 and 7 William IV c110. See E.H. Pearce, 'Sion College and Library' (Cambridge, 1913).

An account of the passing of the Copyright Act of 1710 is given by William Reading in the Sion College Book of Benefactors, with a statement that an account of the books received is entered in the 'lesser register' (Sion L40.2/E64, p. 124). This statement is annotated by William Clements, Librarian 1762-99, who recorded that the 'lesser register' could no longer be found. Books acquired from Stationers' Hall are distinguished by the abbreviation 'St' in William Reading's catalogue of Sion College Library published in 1724, and in subsequent catalogues to c.1837 (Sion L40.2/E96-99). Books acquired from Stationers' Hall between 1742 and 1789 are entered in the Sion College Book of Benefactors (Sion L40.2/E64 between p. 255 and p. 335). 'A catalogue of musical publications delivered from the Stationers Company ... to Sion College Library taken in October 1784', together with half-yearly lists of musical books delivered 1786-92 (53pp.) is in the Sion College archive at London Metropolitan Archives (CLC/198/SICE/010/MS 33528). For lists of books considered for acquisition under the copyright privilege but rejected, c.1826-c.1832, see Sion L40.2/E107.

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