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---
title: On books, their trade, and their use
categories: rules
---
# The Economy of Books
Ars Magica players often argue about the availability of books
within the Order of Hermes, and every troupe has to make a choice.
Does the Order have the resources to enable publication and
distribution on an almost industrial scale? Or do the magi live
under almost normal medieval circumstances, where books are rare and
expensive?
A case can be made for either position. The question is not really
which alternative is most plausible, because each is plausible under
certain assimptions. The question is rather which alternatives gives
the right feel for your story, and what assumptions should be made to
make a consistent interpretation of Mythic Europe.
Below, I will outline two alternatives which I consider plausible and
internally consistent.
In both cases, the interpretation of *Cow and Calf* will be central, so
let's review that principle first.
## Cow and Calf
Cow and Calf is the canon interpretation of medieval copyright.
> It is an agreement that the purchaser of a book will not sell, or freely give, copies of that book without the seller’s permission.
[Cov:95]
Thus, in canon, authors and covenants may sell copies of their books,
reserving all rights to future copies. This makes it possible for
good authors to earn good vis on a couple of good books.
The principle of Cow and Calf originates with the dispute between
St. Columba and Finian in Ireland in the 6th Century.
Briefly told, St Columba secretly copied a book from Finian's collection,
and Finian claimed that the copy would belong to him, as the book's owner.
The king was asked to arbitrate, and ruled in Finian's favour, with the
famous words:
> To every cow belongs its calf; to every book its copy.
To consider the analog first.
Cows are commonly rented for the milk with the understanding that
any offspring belong to the cow and its owner, unless explicitly agreed
otherwise.
However, when a calf is *sold*, the seller would not make a claim to
its grand calf.
Contrary to the canon interpretation of Cow and Calf, the historical
interpretation applies only on books on loan or lease, including
scribal hospitality.
+ Reference: [Ruth Suehle](https://opensource.com/law/11/6/story-st-columba-modern-copyright-battle-sixth-century-ireland)
## World 1. Hermetic Book Industry
*Covenants* suggest a bustling Hermetic book trade.
Some covenants specialise in copying books for sale, circulating catalogues
with the redcaps, who can broker deals.
ca
## World 2. Medieval Scarcity of Books
## Lease and hospitality
# Book rules
1. We use the optional book rules from [Cov], so that standard book
qualities are three points lower than in core.
4. We do not use the optional book rules from [Cov]. This was discussed
during the previous saga and considered to be too much bookkeeping.
# Cow and Calf
# Lease and hospitality
