Imprimatur

     An interesting question came up while I was assigning the call numbers to books that are in the Congregational Library Collection. The book I was working on was titled The Harmony of the Four Evangelists, and their Text Methodiz’d, According to the Order and Series of times, in which the several things by them mentioned, were Transacted. Wherein the Entire History of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is Methodically set forth. It was written by Samuel Cradock and was published in London in 1668. I as given pause, because opposite the title page the text, “Imprimatur, June 7, 1667. Tho. Grigg, R.P. ac Dno Dno Humfr. Episc. Lond. À Sacr. Dom.” appeared.  I had not yet encountered anything of its like as I sought to identify publisher, bookseller, and printer information. So, what is an imprimatur? And what is its significance? 

     It turns out that an imprimatur is a statement of authorization that was needed before a book could be published.  The imprimatur was required for Cradock’s book, because The Act for Preventing the Frequent Abuses in Printing Seditious, Treasonable and Unlicensed Books and Pamphlets, and for Regulating of Printing and Printing Presses, was established in 1662 (and was not too long after abandoned). Its purpose was to limit the number of books that could be printed and to require official approval before a book could be printed or sold. This regulation gave the government control over what the public could read. Authorization was given from a variety of important religious and government officials, such as the Bishop or London, a principal Secretary of State, or the Lord Chancellor. When a book required an imprimatur from the Bishop of London, it was typically sent to a chaplain of the Bishop for examination.   In the case of The Harmony of the Four Evangelists, Tho. Grigg, refers to Thomas Grigg, chaplain to Humphrey Henchman, Bishop of London. In order for Cradock’s book to be published in 1668, Grigg needed to grant permission after checking the book for anything perceived as being harmful to the church or government. (Information about Thomas Grigg and the 1662 Act were found from N.H. Keeble’s book, The Restoration: England in the 1660s, on pages 148-149.) 

     Today, especially in the United States, it is hard to imagine a book censure such as this one. Anyone can write and publish a book or put information out on the internet. It was quite enjoyable to do a little research and discover an interesting history lesson about book printing in 17th century Britain! 

Source:
Keeble, N.H. The Restoration: England in the 1660s. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2002.

                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                     - Meghan Fitch