Annals of American Bookselling, 1638-1850

by Henry Walcott Boynton

"This...will serve to fill a gap in the early history of the book trade in North American." -- AB Bookman's Weekly This is one of the best accounts of early American bookselling, printing, and publishing. Reprint of the first edition with a new introduction by Joseph Rosenblum.

209 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1932

About the author

1869-1947

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1932, and reprinted in 1991, this text reflects the moment in which it was first introduced. Although the author makes no pretense to providing an exhaustive overview of early American bookselling from 1638 to 1850, the majority of this work centers on a few leading characters and locations. Boston, New York, and Philadelphia are the heart of this narrative, with numerous side trips to London, though little attention is paid to "frontier" publishing and bookselling efforts in locations such as Hartford or Albany, even though one chapter is ostensibly focused on "Small-Town Pioneers."

This reproduction (and possibly the original text too?) is also plagued with dating errors that make the narrative difficult and confusing to follow, especially for readers unfamiliar with the minor bookselling players referenced throughout. The strongest part of the original text is its coverage of the pre-Revolutionary period, while the more contemporary introduction is by far the best part of this re-print and if looking for a good, short, and general overview of this important history I would recommend that over the rest of the work.