 | The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers, and an account of newspapers ... |  |
PREFACE.
The Committee appointed to supervise the republication of Thomas's
"History of Printing in America," have endeavored to carry
out, as nearly as practicable, the intentions of the author, disclosed
in a corrected copy, left by him for a new edition.[1]
This requirement being regarded as paramount to every other
consideration, no change in the plan or arrangement has been deemed
justifiable, beyond the apparent purpose of the writer, and the authority
expressed or implied in the general statement of his design.
Mr. Thomas made omissions and alterations in the text of an
interleaved copy, and provided material for insertion not always
entirely digested; but his ideas in regard to the manner of preparing
the work for republication were sufficiently indicated by what
he had already accomplished. He says, in a memorandum, that he
proposed to take another copy, and make all the alterations, etc., in
that, with more care; adding the request: "If I should not live to
fulfil my intention, and the work should be again printed, I hope
some friend will do it."
The expediency of omitting his preliminary account of the beginning
and progress of printing in the Old World, has been determined
by the circumstances of the case, rather than by an intimation
of the author's wishes. Mr. Thomas had, indeed, bestowed considerable
labor on a revision of that part of his book; but, though
very desirable at the period when he wrote, it has been viewed by
the Committee as less adapted to the present state of information on
that subject, as requiring too much modification and enlargement, as
occupying space demanded for additional matter of an important
character, and as not essential to the special object of presenting a
history of the American Press The full and interesting memoir
of Mr. Thomas, by an eminent descendant, may, fitly and acceptably,
take the place of an essay concocted with industrious research
from such sources of information as were then accessible, yet which
and thence likely to be more accurate compilations.
The American Antiquarian Society are gratified in being able to
reproduce the History of Printing in America, Mr. Thomas's great
and distinctive enterprise, after his own revision, as an appropriate
memorial of their honored Founder and first President.
The original book is rarely met with in the market, and large
prices have been paid for copies occasionally found. A desire to
reprint has often been manifested by prominent publishers, but has
usually been connected with some project impairing the identity of
the work, and involving a continuation of the history of the art, and
the biographical notices, to a later period.
Mr. Munsell, who prints this edition, had long held a similar
purpose in mind, and had made collections with reference to it; but
since the Antiquarian Society, of which he is a member, decided to
put to press the revised copy left in their possession, he has given the
advantage of his information and judgment to that object, being
joined to the Committee in charge of the publication. Mr. Paine,
the Treasurer of the Society, has served faithfully on the Committee
from the beginning. The principal responsibility and labor have,
however, necessarily devolved on the chairman, with whatever
accountability belongs to that position.
Mr. Thomas's account of printing in Spanish America was not
satisfactory to himself, from a consciousness of imperfections which
he could not overcome with the means at his command, and he mentions
his expectation of better facilities in the future. The bibliography
of that part of the country is now much better understood,
and Hon. John U. Bartlett, one of the Society, who has given special
attention to the subject, kindly furnishes a valuable paper relating
to it, which is printed in an Appendix.
At the close of the preface to his first edition, Mr. Thomas says,
in a note: "It was my design to have given a catalogue of the books
printed in the English colonies previous to the revolution; finding,
however that it would enlarge this work to another volume, I have
deferred the publication; but it, may appear hereafter."
It is extremely unfortunate that this design was not executed at
the time. No person since has been so favorably situated for its
accomplishment. Mr. Thomas left to the Antiquarian Society several
memorandum books and loose sheets of foolscap containing
titles, a considerable portion of which had been transcribed several
times, with an effort to arrange them alphabetically and under the
names of the places where they were printed—"the product," he
of various points of information, such as the number of pages in
each work, when known, and the indication of reprints by a sign.
With titles collected from miscellaneous sources, from newspapers,
bookseller's lists, and library catalogues, in all degrees of fullness
and literalness of description, the task of adjustment upon a rigid
or uniform principle was discouraging, and was finally relinquished,
with the declaration that "all these volumes must be revised, corrected,
and transcribed, and better arranged."
Before the breaking out of the recent rebellion, the copying of
these titles, and their reärrangement in order of date, a simpler and
better system for the purpose in view, was undertaken by Samuel
F. Haven Jr., M. D., who had just commenced medical practice, with
some leisure for the gratification of a literary taste and love of investigation.
Having placed Mr. Thomas's titles upon cards, under the plan
adopted, Dr. Haven continued the research for more. He examined
the advertisements of early Newspapers, and the Publishers' announcements
often contained in old books, studied library catalogues,
and looked over libraries that were without catalogues. He had
the advantage of admission to the unequalled collection of American
publications made by George Brinley Esq, of Hartford, and of the
cordial assistance of the accomplished owner in the examination of
its treasures and the enlargement of his lists.
The result of much zeal and a good deal of patient toil was a card
catalogue of publications in this country previous to the revolution,
which on brevier type would make a volume of four or five hundred
pages.
Dr. Haven left his literary occupations, and his professional employments
at home, to accompany the 15th Massachusetts Regiment
of volunteers, one of the earliest to enter into the national service at
the beginning of the late civil war. While engaged, as surgeon of
the regiment, in active duty under fire, at the battle of Fredericksburg,
he was mortally wounded by a shell from the enemy's battery.
Had he returned in safety the catalogue would doubtless have been
subjected to a most careful preparation for the press. He could,
perhaps, have followed his memoranda of titles back to their sources
for reëxamination, and by means of his studies might, to a certain
extent, have treated Mr. Thomas's titles in the same way. Their
precise verification would demand the virtual impossibility of comparison
with the publications themselves. The most trusted authorities
will sometimes lead into error, and the chances of mistake are
removed from their source, and of informal and irresponsible origin.
In adopting the catalogue as left by Dr. Haven, without material
alteration, other than occasional abridgement, the Committee believe
they shall substantially execute the cherished purpose of Mr. Thomas,
and attach to this work what may be claimed to be, in accordance
with the expression of his own expectation, "the only Catalogue of
(early) American printed books, of any consequence, or in any way
general, to be met with, or that has been made." Catalogues are
not wanting of American publications of later periods, with which
many of an early date are mixed; but as the basis of an exhaustive
list of both the major and minor issues of the American press, previous
to that turning point of national history known as the Revolution,
the effort here presented stands by itself.
The first edition of the History of Printing in America was dedicated
to "The President and other Officers and Members of the
American Philosophical Society in Pennsylvania, and The
President, Counsellors, and other members, of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences in Massachusetts." If the new
edition had come from the hand of the author there is the best
reason for presuming that it would have been inscribed to the society
of his chief interest and affections, the American Antiquarian Society,
whose later birth and infancy had been so largely the object of his
care.
The following extracts from the original Preface are all that may
suitably be repeated in this place.
"Amidst the darkness which surrounds the discovery of many of
the arts, it has been ascertained that it is practicable to trace the
Introduction and progress of Printing, in the northern part of America,
to the period of the revolution. A history of this kind has
not, until now, been attempted, although the subject, in one point of
view, is more interesting to us than to any other nation. We are
able to convey to posterity a correct account of the manner in which
we have grown up to be an independent people, and can delineate
the progress of the useful and polite arts among us with a degree of
certainty which cannot be attained by the nations of the old world,
in respect to themselves.
"I am sensible that a work of this kind might, in other hands, have
been rendered more interesting. It has a long time been the wish
of many, that some person distinguished for literature would bring
it forward; but, as no one has appeared who was disposed to render
friends led them to entertain the opinion, that my long acquaintance
with Printing must have afforded me a knowledge of many interesting
facts, and pointed out the way for further inquiry, and that,
therefore, I should assume the undertaking. Thus I have been,
perhaps too easily, led to engage in a task which has proved more
arduous than I had previously apprehended; and which has been
attended with much expense.
"It is true, that in the course of fifty years, during which I have
been intimately connected with the art, I became acquainted with
many of its respectable professors; some of who had, long before
me, been engaged in business. From them I received information
respecting the transactions and events which occurred in their own
time, and also concerning those of which they received the details
from their predecessors. By these means I have been enabled to
record many circumstances and events which must soon have been
buried in oblivion. My long acquaintance with printing, and the
researches I made in several of the colonies before the revolution,
certainly afforded me no inconsiderable aid in this undertaking;
and, to this advantage, I may add, and I do it with sincere and
grateful acknowledgments, that I have received the most friendly
attention to my inquiries from gentlemen in different parts of the
United States; among whom I must be permitted to name the following,
viz.—Ebenezer Hazard, esq. and judge J. B. Smith, of
Philadelphia; the hon. David Ramsay, of Charleston, Southcarolina;
rev. doctor Miller, of Newyork; rev. Aaron Bancroft,
and mr. William Sheldon, of Worcester; the rev. Thaddeus M.
Harris, of Dorchester; the rev. doctor John Eliot, of Boston;
and the rev. William Bentley, of Salem; Massachusetts. To
these I must add, among the elder brethren of the type, William
Goddard and John Carter, esqrs. of Providence ; and mr. Thomas
Bradford, and the late mr. James Humphreys, of Philadelphia.
Many others belonging to the profession, in various parts
of the union, have laid me under obligations for the information
they have given me.
"Through the politeness of various gentlemen, I have had access
to the ancient MS. records of the counties of Middlesex and Suffolk,
in Massachusetts, where Printing was first introduced to this country;
to those of the colony of Massachusetts, and of the university
of Cambridge; and, also, to those of the United Newengland Colonies;
all of the seventeenth century;—likewise, to the records of
several of the southern states; and, to many of the principal libraries
and institutions I have obtained much valuable intelligence.
"Yet, nothwithstanding all these advantages, I have experienced
much difficulty in collecting, through this extensive country, the
facts which relate to the introduction of the art of Printing in the
several states. These facts were all to be sought for, and the inquiry
after them had so long been neglected that the greater part of them
would soon have passed beyond the reach of our researches. Most
of the printers mentioned in these volumes have long since been
numbered with the dead, of whom many were but little known
while living; yet, the essential circumstances respecting them, as
connected with the art. will, I believe, be found in the following
pages; although "I cannot flatter myself that they will be entirely
free from unintentional errors or omissions.
"The biographical sketches of printers are principally confined to
their professional concerns, and to such events as are connected
with them.
"Newspapers are placed in the proper order of succession, or agreeably
to the periods in which they were established in the various
cities, towns, &c.
"The narratives respecting such persons as remained in business
after the American revolution, and such newspapers as were continued
after this event, are brought down to the time when those
printers quitted business, or died, or these publications were discontinued.
From the settlement of the country to the establishment of
the independence of the United States, few Printers, and not many
Newspapers, have, I believe, escaped my observation; and, I may
venture to assert that the data respecting them are as correct, as can,
at this period of time, be obtained by the researches of an individual.
"The history of printing in America, I have brought down to the
most important event in the annals of our country—the Revolution.
To have continued it beyond this period, all will admit would have
been superfluous.
"From the consideration that the press, aad particularly the newspapers
to which it gave birth, had a powerful influence in producing
the revolution, I have been led to conceive there would be much
propriety in giving accounts of the prosecutions of printers for publishing
Libels, which occurred under the several colonial governments.
Articles of this description, will be found in such parts of
this work as contain memoirs of the Printers who were prosecuted,
or descriptions of the Newspapers in which the supposed libels were
published.
"With a view to gratify the admirers of typographical antiquities,
I have, in several instances, given, as accurately as the nature of the
case would admit, representations of the titles of the most ancient
Newspapers; from which a tolerable idea may be formed of the fashion
of the originals.
"Although a work of this nature may be principally interesting
to the professors of the typographic art, yet the facts relating to
printing are necessarily connected with others which I have thought
it proper to enlarge upon. This circumstance may render these
volumes amusing to the man of letters, and not altogether uninteresting
to the antiquary.
"I devoted sometime to obtaining a correct account of the booksellers
in Boston; it having been my intention to take notice of all
who were in the trade from the first settlement of each colony to the
year 1775; but I discovered that particular information from other
states respecting many, who, in this character, have passed over the
stage of life, could not be procured, therefore, the statement is not
so complete as I intended it should be. But supposing that the particulars
which I have collected may afford some gratification, I have
annexed them to this work."
It only remains to be stated that the notes in this edition, are those
of Mr. Thomas unless accompanied by an initial letter or other indication
of different authorship. Thus B. is for Hon. John R. Bartlett,
H. is for the chairman of the Committee, and M. is for Mr. Munsell.
The notes respecting Paper Making, etc., in Pennsylvania, communicated
by Mr. H. G. Jones of Philadelphia, bear his name or initials.
| The history of printing in America, with a biography of printers, and an account of newspapers ... | |