The Licensing Act of 1737

The Licensing Act of 1737

The Licensing Act of 1737 marked the beginning of a formal system of theatrical censorship in Britain. It effectively silenced oppositional voices on the stage. It gave the state the power to shut down productions, edit scripts, and blacklist playwrights. The law remained in force for over 230 years until its repeal in 1968. This is the first page of the legislation. The document is old, and the page is yellowed with age. There are several lines of Latin written at the top of the page, a very large seal in the middle of the page, and the bottom of the page includes the publisher, John Beckett, printer to the King’s most excellent majesty.

Robert Walpole and 1737 British Parliament

Wikimedia Commons

Printed by John Basskett, Printer to the King's most
Excellent Majesty. 1737

June 21, 1737

Kennesaw State University, Magdaline Marks

Public Domain

English

Text

Morocco 18th Century

This is the first page of the printed Licensing Act of 1737. The pages are yellowed with age, and the text reflects a style that is an older English.

Print on Paper