Introduction -- The British cartel system, 1880-1964 -- The state and the 'monopoly problem', 1880-1939 -- The war and the White Paper, 1940-44 -- The origins of the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Act, 1948 -- Interpretation of policy: the Monopolies and Restrictive Practices Commission, 1949-56 -- The origins of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1956: a re-interpretation -- Resale price maintenance -- Conclusions -- Appendixes.