Châtelet de Paris banner register from the reign of Francis I (National Archives, Y9)
Documentary heritage submitted by France and recommended for inclusion in the Memory of the World Register in 2011.
The Châtelet banners series covers the registration and publication of legislative texts, including the 1537 decree by King François I imposing a legal deposit system on booksellers and printers. For the first time printers and booksellers were required to deposit a copy of each of their publications in the King's library. This model spread in the 17th century supporting the growth of national libraries and the preservation of knowledge.