published by Starkey in 1667. He was one of the founders of the periodical bibliography called Mercurius Librarius, which began in Michaelmas Term, 1668, and was afterwards succeeded by the Term Catalogues. [Arber, Term Catalogues, vol. 1, pp. viii-x.]
STATIONERS, COMPANY OF, Edinburgh, 1650. Mr. H. G. Aldis, in his List of Books printed in Scotland before 1700, gives one, A golden chaine of Time, No. 1415, with the imprint, "Printed at Edinburgh by the Heires of George Anderson, for the Company of Stationers," which he thinks was distinct from the Society of Stationers. [H. G. Aldis, List of Books, p. 120.] Amongst the State Papers, Domestic, for 1651, vol. 15 (18), is an undated and unsigned paper headed The true ground and reason why the Company of Stationers bought their printing house in Scotland. In this it is stated that four years before (? 1647) upon an overture from the King's Printer there to sell the Company his patent and printing house, the Company made an agreement with him, which cost them a large sum of money, and that owing to the troubles in both kingdoms they had lost heavily over the transaction. The Company further state that they are "now" [i.e., 1651] withdrawing their stock and materials, in regard that by the late Act full provision is made against importation from that kingdom.
STATIONERS, SOCIETY OF, Edinburgh, 1660-90. This press appears to fall into two periods: First period, 1660-71. Succeeding Higgins, q. v. This seems to be the Stationers' Company of London. Watson, p. 10, states that, "Tyler made over his part of the forfeited gift to some Stationers at London, who sent down upon us Christopher Higgins and some English servants with him … After he died, these London Stationers appoint Patrick Ramsay, q.v., a Scotsman to be overseer of that House … but the masters living at a distance, and the work coming to no account, they sold this printing house to several booksellers [probably Swintoun, Glen and Brown, q.v.] at Edinburgh, who, in a little time after did divide and set up distinct houses." Arber [Stationers' Registers, v. xlvii] says that the Company "held for some years a patent for printing in Scotland, granted by the Scotch Parliament. This Scotch Patent … appears to have been abandoned in 1669 upon the death of Christopher Higgins, the Company's agent at Edinburgh, and the stock and plant sold there for £300." [H. G. Aldis, List of Books, p. 121.]
