[SAUGRAIN, Claude Martin]

Code de la librairie et imprimerie de Paris, ou Conférence du règlement arrêté au conseil d'état du roi le 28 février 1723, et rendu commun pour tout le royaume, par arrêt du conseil d'état du 24 mars 1744. With the old ordinances. Paris, at the expense of the community, 1744. In-12 (167 x 95 mm) of XXIV, 496 pp. 15 ff.n.ch. Spotted calf, smooth spine decorated, red edges (period binding). New edition published in the year when this Regulation was extended to the whole Kingdom (1744). Two first editions appeared in 1723 and 1731. In this first half of the 18th century, it appeared necessary to coordinate the legislation of the book trade, to put an end to the conflicts of competence and the pretensions of the Parliament and the Church to play a role of censor. A true Code of Bookshop Law was needed: the Chancellor of France, Henri-François d'Aguesseau, continuing the work of Chancellor Voysin, who in 1715 had organized conferences with the community of booksellers and printers of Paris to draft a text amending the edict of 1686, organized new conferences in June 1717, followed by negotiations with the magistrates of the Parliament of Paris from August 1720 to February 1722. When these failed, the Keeper of the Seals Fleuriau d'Armenonville published the controversial text in the form of a Council decree on 28 February 1723. This code was extended to the whole Kingdom in 1744 and remained in force until 1777. A very good copy, spine and corners skilfully restored.