Also 4 statiner, 5 stacyener, stacyonere, 5–6 stacioner, 6 stacyoner. [ad. L. statiōnārius (see STATIONARY), in med.L. used subst. for a tradesman (chiefly, a bookseller) who has a station or shop, as distinguished from an itinerant vendor. Cf. early Sp. estacionario bookseller, It. † stazioniere shopkeeper.
The direct adoption of the Latin word is accounted for by the fact that in the Middle Ages booksellers with a regular ‘station’ or shop were rare except at the universities; the typical example of such a trader was the stationarius licensed and controlled by the academic authorities, whom he was sworn to obey.]
1. † a. A bookseller; in wider sense, one engaged in any of the trades connected with books (cf. quot. 1625). Obs.
† Flying, running stationer: see the ppl. adjs.
[1262. Memoranda Roll 45 & 46. Hen. III., m. 9 b. Mandatum est vicecomiti quod venire [faciat] … Reginaldum stacionarium Oxoniensem ad respondendum Ricardo Brun de Rowell’, clerico de scaccario, de I codice precii .xx. s. quem ei debet, et iniuste detinet, vt dicit.]
1393–4. Rolls of Parlt., III. 326/1. Statiners & Bokebynders del dit Universite [of Cambridge].
c. 1440. Jacob’s Well, 27. And alle þo, þat makyn statutys aȝens þe fredam of holy cherch, & alle wryteres of swyche statutes, & stacionerys.
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 471/2. Stacyonere, or he þat sellythe bokys, stacionarius, bibliopola.
1479–81. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 101. Item, payd to a Stacioner for the grete Antyphoner, and for a quayer of clene stuffe sette into the same [etc.], xxij s. ij d. Ibid. (1496–7), 226. Item, to the Stacyener for settyng of all the new feestes in to the bookes that lakkyd them.
1529. J. Taverner, in Arber, Transcr. Stationers’ Reg. (1875), II. 8. Item I gyue and bequeth vnto my crafte of Stacioners vj s. viij d.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 33 b. He commaundeth also his Bokes should be brent, appoyntynge a greate penaltie herafter for the Stationer [orig. librariis].
1572. in Feuillerat, Revels Q. Eliz. (1908), 161. To the stacyoner for a lidger booke.
1612. Rowlands, Knaue of Harts, 29. I grieue thou hast a groate to buy this Booke:… I hate the Printer if he haue done well, And Stationer, that doth these humours sell.
1625. Wither, Scholars Purg., 116. An honest Stationer is he that exercizeth his Mystery (whether it be in printing, bynding or selling of Bookes) with more respect to the glory of God … then to his owne commodity.
1626. F. Moryson, Shakespeare’s Europe, V. i. (1903), 429. This one Vniversity [sc. Bologna] indeede hath two Academies, one of the nations beyonde the mountaynes, the other of those on that syde the Alpes…. The Stationers are Chosen by three Citramontans, and three Vltramontans.
1679–83. Moneys Secr. Serv. Chas. II. & Jas. II. (Camden), 93. To Anne, relict and ex’trix of Samuel Mearne, dece’d, King Charles the 2d’s stationer, in part of 862li 3s 4d for Church Bibles, Com’on Prayer Books, and other books,… 215 10 0.
a. 1680. Butler, Rem. (1759), I. 90. Thy Works … never have been known to stand in need of Stationer to sell, or Sot to read.
1705. Dunton, Life & Err. (1818), I. vii. 254. He was the first stationer I ever dealt with.
1727. Swift, Poisoning of E. Curll, Misc. 1732, III. 19. Yet was it plain by the Pangs this unhappy Stationer felt soon after, that some poisonous Drug had been secretly infused therein.
1895. Rashdall, Univ. Europe, I. iv. § 4. 191. [Bologna] The Stationer’s primary business was to let out books on hire to scholars. Ibid., I. v. § 3. 416. [Paris] All Stationers and Booksellers were sworn to obey the University and were required to give security.
† b. A publishing bookseller, publisher. Obs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Cyrurg., To Rdrs. A certayne yonge gentyll man … moued the ryght honest persone Henry Dabbe bybliopolyst & stacyoner to haue it translated in to englysshe.
1615. W. Lawson, New Orchard, Pref. (1623). The Stationer hath … bestowed much cost and care in hauing the Knots and Models by the best Artizan cut in great varietie.
1657. Brome’s Queenes Exch., The Stationer to the Readers.
1659. Bp. Walton, Consid. Considered, 21. The Prolegomena … came to his hands after he had finished his Treatise of the Scripture, and was ready to give it to the Stationer.
a. 1661. Fuller, Worthies, Gen., xxv. (1662), 74. I have passed my promise … to my former Stationer, that I will write nothing for the future, which was in my former Books, so considerable, as may make them Inter-fere one with another to his Prejudice.
1673. Oley, Jackson’s Wks., I. Pref. (d) 1 b. I … here set down all such particulars as may … contribute to the benefit … of the Reader, to the credit or caution of the Stationer.
† c. A scribe, copyist. Obs. rare.
1583. Fulke, Def., iv. 138. The other translatours … left out that title altogither, as being no part of the text and word of God, but an addition of the stationers or writers.
d. A tradesman who sells writing materials and similar articles. Cf. LAW-STATIONER.
The sale of parchment, paper, pens, ink, etc., was originally a regular branch of the business of the ‘stationer’ or bookseller. The restriction of the term stationer to the dealer in these articles is first evidenced in quot. 1656; it had probably been in vogue in accurate mercantile parlance some time before, but was not established in ordinary use until the 18th century. Phillips (ed. Kersey, 1706), s.v. Stationers, has the term paper-stationer.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Stationer … is often confounded with Book-seller, and sometimes with Book-binder; whereas they are three several Trades; the Stationer sells Paper and Paper-Books, Ink, Wax, etc. The Book-seller deals onely in printed Books, ready bound; and the Book-binder binds them, but sells not. Yet all three are of the Company of Stationers.
1755. Johnson, Stationer,… 2. A seller of paper.
1796. Pegge, Anonym. (1809), 155. A Stationer is now one that sells writing-paper, pens, &c. but formerly meant any one that kept a station or shop.
1812. H. & J. Smith, Horace in Lond., 164. My paper boasts no edge of gold; My stationer is Henry Hase.
1859. (title) The Stationers’ Hand-book; and Guide to the Paper Trade.
1880. Print. Trades Jrnl., xxx. 35. The exhibition … will be intended more particularly for Printers, Paper Makers, Stationers, and kindred traders.
e. Possessive combinations: stationer’s knot, stationer’s rule (see quots.).
1870. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 601. The model tie of tradesmen is the Stationer’s Knot.
1866. W. F. Stanley, Math. Instrum., 211. The Stationer’s, or Cutting rule, is a piece of hard wood … with the edges covered with brass.
f. The Company of Stationers (or the Stationers’ Company): one of the Livery Companies of the City of London, founded in 1556, comprising booksellers, printers, bookbinders, and dealers in writing materials, etc. Stationers’ Hall: the hall of the Stationers’ Company, at which a register of copyrights is kept. (The Copyright Act of 1842 provided that no action for breach of copyright could be brought unless the work had been entered in this register. The Copyright Act of 1911 abolished this rule.)
The charter of 1556 (ed. 1741, p. 6) is thus worded: ‘Volumus, damus, et concedimus … Thomæ Dockwray … [names of the Wardens and Freemen] Liberis Hominibus Misteræ sive Artis Stationarii Civitatis Nostre Londinensis … quod de cetero sint … Unum Corpus de se in perpetuum [etc.].’
An earlier guild of stationers is said to have been established in London in 1403: see quot. 1529 in 1.
1566. Star Chamber Decree, in Arber, Transcr. Stationers’ Reg. (1875), I. 322. All Bookes to be so forfaited, shall be brought into the Stationers hall in London.
1709. Act 8 Anne, c. 21 § 2. Before such Publication be entred in the Register Book of the Company of Stationers.
1765. Bickerstaff’s Maid of Mill, Advt., This Opera is entered at Stationers Hall, and whoever presumes to Print the Songs, or any Part of them, will be prosecuted by the Proprietors.
1790. J. Fisher, Poems, back of title, Entered in Stationers’ Hall, according to Act of Parliament.
1859. Stationers’ Hand-bk. back of title, Entered at Stationers’ Hall.
1864. Chamb. Jrnl., 19 Nov., 748/2. ‘Almanac-day’ at Stationers’ Hall.
† 2. One who has a stall at a market. Obs. rare.
1616. Sheldon, Surv. Miracles Ch. Rome, 174. Standing Stationers and Assistants at your miracle markets and miracle forges, are for most part of lewdest life.
