PUBLISHING, American. The book trade or publishing industry in the New World had its origin in a more remote period than is generally supposed. It began within 100 years of the invention of printing, and from the date of the first American book, 1535, to the year 1799, over 7,000 different books had been published, nine-tenths of them, however, being pamphlets. The 19th century saw almost the full development of book publishing, the establishment of colleges and schools and the founding of many libraries, creating an ever increasing demand for the best in literature.
Early American
The first book printed on the American continent is said to have been (La Escalera Spiritual de San Juan Climaco,' published in Mexico in 1535. It was a translation from the Latin into Castilian. Other books were printed on the first press set up in Mexico and six or seven books are known to have been published in Peru before 1600. In the United States the earliest publication was a pamphlet called 'The Freeman's Oath,' printed in Boston in 1639. This was followed in the year 1640 by the 'Bay Psalm Book,' printed by Stephen Daye at Cambridge, Mass. After its publication in the colony it was re printed in England, where it went through 17 editions, the last one bearing the date of 1754. It was also a highly popular work in Scotland, 22 editions having been printed there, the last dated 1759. The first original American book published in this country was Mrs. Anne Brad street's
Early In New York City the original book publisher was William Bradford, who became official printer in 1693, for pounds a year and half the benefit of his print ing, besides what served the public)) In 1694 he issued the 'Laws of the Colony,' the first bound book published in New York. In 1738 Christopher Sauer established a publishing house at Germantown, Pa., and issued the first German Bible printed in America in 1743. The firm of Little, Brown and Company was estab lished in 1784 in Boston while in the following year, in Philadelphia, Lea Brothers and Company and Henry Baird and Company began business. It was also in 1785 that S. E. Bndgeman and Company began publishing books at Northamp ton, Mass. The existing house of J. B. Lippin cott and Company was established in Philadel phia in 1798. The firm of Harper and Brother began business in New York in 1817. From this date the publishing business had a rapid growth, among the firms established being the following in New York: Baker, Voorhis and Company, 1820; D. Appleton and Company,
1825; D. Van Nostrand, 1830; Ivison and Com pany, 1831; John Wiley and Sons, 1832; John F. Trow, 1835; A. S. Barnes and Company, 1838. In other cities the early firms included the following: Cincinnati, Ohio, U. P. James, 1831; Springfield, Mass., G. and C. Merriam Com pany, 1831; Louisville, Ky., John P. Morton, 1825; Richmond, Va., J. W. Randolph Company, 1831; Mobile, Ala., G. H. Randall, 1831; Mont gomery, Ala., Joel White and Company, 1833; Lancaster, Pa., John Baer's Sons, 1817.
The Early Book an adjunct to publishing, the selling of books originated in Boston as early as 1652, when Hezekiah Usher opened the first shop. Many colonial book sellers printed and published their wares. Ben jamin Franklin (q.v.) was among the early book printers. In 1732, Richard Fry, an English man and bookseller of Boston, advertised: it has been the common method of the most curious merchants of Boston to pro cure their books from London, this is to ac quaint these gentlemen that I, the said Fry, will sell all sorts of accompt books, done after the most acute manner, for 20 per cent cheaper than they can have them from London. . . . For the pleasing entertainment of the polite parts of mankind, I have printed the most beautiful poems of Stephen Duck, the famous Wiltshire poet. It is a full demonstration to me that the people of New England have a fine taste for good sense and polite learning, having already sold 1,200 of these poems.B The first convention of booksellers for the regula tion of trade seems to have been held in Bos ton, 1724; it was for the special purpose of in creasing the prices of certain wprks. Toward the close of the century bookselling began to take rank among the most considerable com mercial pursuits, though it then only fore shadowed its present comparative importance. Works of standard character, involving large expenditures, were undertaken by publishers, who, in such cases, usually subscribed together as a guarantee for the printer's outlay. The trade was conducted upon established principles, and innovators were held in poor esteem. All these usages were, however, disturbed by com petition, and after the publication of the Waverly novels, of which rival editions were issued, the individual members of the trade acted more independently of each other, and their customs afterward partook of a less narrow spirit. The American Company of Booksellers was founded in 1801. Books were formerly sold in sheets, to be bound as pur chasers might desire, a practice which no longer obtains. The universal diffusion of education in America, and the inquiring mental character of its people, not only increased the circulation of books but reduced their price, and the old fashioned veneration which literary works had once inspired experienced no little modification. Externals were of small consequence to the great body of readers, and works were pur chased not so much for preservation as for im mediate reading.