The English Stock

In 1603, King James VI & I issued letters patent to the Stationers’ Company for printing and publishing almanacks, psalters, primers, and some schoolbooks. These works were in perpetual demand and so formed the lucrative basis for a joint stock company, known as the English Stock.

The formation of the stock had two nominal purposes: to provide work for printers ostracised by former divisive printing monopolies, and to provide pensions for the Company’s poor members. Members of the Company were entitled to purchase shares, the number and value of which depended upon their rank within the Company. With a near guaranteed return year on year and often large dividend percentages, competition for stock shares were fierce. The limited number of shares, only 105 on the creation of the stock, meant only a fraction of the Company was sharing in these profits. Over the centuries, there were various challenges to the stock’s monopoly, with one of the more notable cases recorded in the archive coming from printer Thomas Carnan.

The Stock was dissolved in 1961. Partner shares were replaced with life annuities.

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) 2nd edition - ICA 2004 ISBN 2-9521932-2-3