1995 #3
Message #8819 of 8820
HRSepCnS · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
Re: 1995 #3
--- In HRSepCnS@yahoogroups.com, "buckeyeelo" <buckeyeelo@...> wrote:
###new###To:
Newsgroups:
alt.politics.usa.congress,alt.politics.democrats.d,alt.politics.usa.republican,a\
lt.politics.libertarian,talk.politics.libertarian,alt.politics.usa.misc,talk.pol\
itics.misc,alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.usa.newt-gingrich,alt.politics.econ\
omics,alt.president.clinton,alt.politics.correct,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.fan.g\
-gordon-liddy,alt.society.conservatism
Subject: Re: Prayer in school? Never been illegal
From: jalison@...
Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 17:59:44 GMT
Sure have.. have you heard of "colonial transportation" ? What did
they do, log on to the library with their computers? Zip over in their
BMWs?..... Or did the Indians carry them to the library on their
shoulders? 1750 BACK... there were no "roads", only trails, and many
not safe or even passable in winter and spring....
Horseback was the
only sure way of getting anywhere... so a trek from Left Overshoe, 50
miles away from any library, was a two day trip by horse! And you are
saying that they made that trip, just to check out a library book? Is
that what you are saying?
I will say this again..... http to the Library of Congress... look at
the dates SOME universities and colleges were founded, then look at
the dates that libraries were established.....
Then tell me where
they got those works to read.. PRIOR TO 1750 !!! Look at the dates!
I realize that this conversation took place in 1995, but it concerns
something I happen to know a little about, since I am in the used and
rare book business. Even today, we see similar comments to the effect
that the Bible was practically the only book available in Colonial
America, and was therefore the source of the Constitution.
The gentlemen argues that the only place that one could acquire access
to books in Colonial America was in college libraries. For some reason
he neglects to consider the primary way most people have always bought
books, from their local booksellers. In fact, book-selling (and book
publishing) was a thriving and lucrative business in pre-Revolutionary
America. There was so much demand for books of all types that many
English booksellers shipped crate-loads of books to America on
speculation. Valuable books were quickly snapped up by the local gentry.
Most of the information below was collected by Isaiah Thomas, one of
America's leading booksellers and publishers, and was printed in his
book, The History of Printing in America, which was first published
in 1810, and is still in print. Most of the information is based on
Thomas's own extensive collection of pre-colonial imprints. While
Thomas's book is no longer considered the definitive source, since
scholars have identified other publishers and booksellers which he
missed, it is still a useful book. Since the book was first printed in
1810, critics can not complain that the information has been slanted
or tainted by the ACLU. As you can see below, Thomas catalogued a
thriving book-selling and book publishing industry in the Boston alone.
A Brief Overview of Bookselling, Printing and Publishing in Colonial
America, chiefly in Boston.
The first printing press in America was set up at Cambridge and the
first printing was performed in January 1639. Mr. Joss. Glover set
sail from England with a press donated by a gentleman from Amsterdam
but died in route. Besides the printing materials and supplies he also
brought "a quantity of books for sale." (Thomas, pages 43-45)
According to Thomas, "In 1775, the whole number of printing houses in
the British colonies was fifty." (page 7)
Also, "Till the year 1760, it appears that more books were printed in
Massachusetts, annually, than in any of the other colonies; and,
before 1740, more printing was done there than in all the other
colonies. After 1760, the quantity of printing done in Boston and
Philadelphia was nearly equal, till the commencement of the war. …The
presses of Connecticut were not idle; they furnished many small
pamphlets on various subjects, and some small volumes. Some books were
handsomely printed in Virginia and Maryland, and folio volumes of
laws, and a few … on religion, history and politics issued from the
presses of Carolina, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, etc." (pages 7-8)
The first newspaper was printed in America in 1704. By the year 1810,
over 360 newspapers were printed in the United States.
The following is a list of 68 booksellers in Boston prior to the
Revolutionary War. The dates given are the earliest date for which
Thomas found any record for the booksellers. I omitted several names
which seemed to have very minor connections to book-selling. This list
does not include any of the many general merchants who might also have
offered books for sale.
1652. The first bookseller in the British Colonies cited by Thomas is
Hezekiah Usher. He also commissioned the publication of several books.
1672. John Usher, the son of the above, was a book seller and
publisher, who was "very rich" and "has got his estate by
book-selling," according to John Dunton, an English bookseller who had
brought over a large collection of books to sell in Boston. Dunton
tried to sell his books to Usher, but they could not agree on a price.
They parted on amiable terms, however.
1673. Edmund Ranger, binder and bookseller.
1679. William Avery. His shop was located "near the blue anchor."
1680. Samuel Phillips. "A large dealer in books. He bought books from
England through John Dunton.
His descendents continued the book-selling business till after the
Revolution.
1682. John Ratcliffe. "A minor dealer in books."
1682. Samuel Sewall. "A bookseller, though not bred to the trade."
1682. John Griffin. "A minor dealer."
1684. Richard Watkins. "He had been a bookseller in Limerick, in
Ireland" and came to New England to escape religious persecution.
1684. Joseph Brunning, also, Browning. "He traded largely and
published many books." Dunton called him, "A complet (sic) bookseller."
1684. Duncan Campbell. "The Scotch Bookseller." His father was the
proprietor of the first newspaper published in the American colonies.
1685. Andrew Thorncomb. A bookseller from London. Like many others,
he came to America with "a quantity of books on speculation, and
having sold them, returned to Europe." Unlike many booksellers today,
his company was "coveted by the best gentlemen in Boston, nor is he
less acceptable to the fair sex."
1686. James Cowse. A minor bookseller.
1686. John Dunton. Set sail to America with two lots of books in two
different ships. One lot, worth 500 pounds sterling, was lost at sea.
He set up his remaining books in a warehouse and eventually opened a
shop in Salem. He returned in England and in 1705, wrote the Life and
Times of John Dunton, late citizen of London, in which he relates his
experiences in New England and describes the booksellers of note in
Boston and surrounding area.
1690. Nicholas Buttolph. "Carried on business for fifty years."
1690. Benjamin Elliott. "He was a noted dealer in books which were
printed in Boston. He was about fifty years in business."
1690. Benjamin Harris. A printer and bookseller in London, he remained
in America about five years, then returned to London.
1690. Obadiah Gill. A minor bookseller.
1690. James Wade. Same.
1695. Michael Perry. "A publisher and vender of books, he did a
considerable business."
1695. Vavasour Harris. "A short time in the business."
1699. Elkanah Pembroke. A minor bookseller.
1700. Samuel Sewall, Jr. A minor bookseller.
1701. Nicholas Boone. "An eminent bookseller, and many books written
in America were published by him."
1711. Eleazar Phillips. A minor bookseller, one of his sons
established the first press in South Carolina.
1712. Joanna Perry. The widow of Michael Perry. "After his death, she
continued the business several years."
1712. Samuel Gerrish. "He published a number of small books, and
carried on a considerable trade."
1713. Daniel Henchman. "The most eminent and enterprising bookseller
to appear in America before 1775. He built the first paper mill in New
England. During his long connection to the trade, he acquired a
handsome estate."
1717. Benjamin Gray. A bookbinder and minor book seller.
1717. John Edwards. Published several books.
1723. Joseph Edwards. "A respectable and considerable publisher,
bookseller and binder. He continued in business forty years."
1723. Samuel Robinson. Though mainly a book binder, he did sell some
books.
1725. John Phillips, son of Samuel Phillips. Did a considerable trade
as a publishing bookseller and binder.
1727. Samuel Kneeland. He kept a bookstore for four of five years,
but then returned to printing.
1726. Thomas Hancock. He was a bookseller and binder for a few years,
then turned his attention to general merchandise, and acquired a
handsome fortune.
1727. Nathanial Proctor. He was a bookseller and binder.
1728. John Eliot. He published a few books, and was for many years a
bookseller and binder.
1729. Alford Butler. His principle business was binding, but he
published and sold a few books.
1732. Richard Fry. According to an advertisement published in 1732,
Fry, was a "Stationer, Bookseller, Paper Maker and Rag Merchant from
the city of London," and is "ready to accommodate all Gentlemen,
Merchants and Tradesmen, with setts (sic) of Accompt (sic) Books
after the neatest manner."
1733. T. Cox. A bookseller from England, "who kept a good supply of
English editions, principally of such books as were most valuable, and
suitable for the market."
1735. John Parker. He sold cutlery, groceries and some books.
1736. Michael Dennis. "A respectable dealer in books and stationary."
He published some books, and was in the binding business.
1739. Charles Harrison. Born in England and brought up as a
bookbinder. He settled in Boston as a bookseller and binder.
1740. Samuel Eliot. Published a number of New England pamphlets, and
was "a considerable bookseller, binder and stationer."
1743. Walter MacAlpine. A bookseller and binder.
1743. Joshua Blanchard. "Was an enterprising but not a successful
bookseller."
1743. Alexander Carlisle. Came from Glascow with a collection of
books which he sold at auction, and then returned to Scotland.
1745. Thomas Rand. By trade a binder, but he sold a few books.
1745. Joshua Winter. A bookseller, binder and stationer.
1749. John Amory. Was a bookseller and binder for a few years.
1753. Thomas Leverett. A respectable bookseller, binder, stationer and
dealer in English goods.
1753. William MacAlpine. Trained by his brother as a book binder, he
became a considerable bookseller.
1757. Samuel Webb. He carried on bookselling and binding for a number
of years.
1758. Jeremy Condy. He kept a supply of valuable books, chiefly
English editions.
1760. William Lang. A binder from Scotland who also sold school and
religious books.
1761. John Wharton. Bought the business of Daniel Henchman. Dealt
mainly in English editions.
1762. John Hodgson. Trained as a bookbinder in Scotland. Sold a few
books from his business. After giving up the business, sold books out
of a stall in the marketplace.
1762. Philip Freeman. Mainly a dealer in leather goods, he kept a
small collection of books for sale.
1762. James Rivington. A considerable bookseller in London, he sold
books in Boston via an agent. He eventually moved to Philadelphia and
sold books, and later moved to New York.
1763. William Miller. He was Rivington's agent in Boston, and later
his partner.
1764. William Philips. Son of John Philips, and succeeded him in
business.
1764. Alford Butler. Son of Alford Butler, was a binder and sold a
few books. After a career as a school teacher in New Hampshire, he
returned to Boston and carried on business as before.
1764. Andrew Barclay. Was a binder who also sold a few books.
1764. John Mein. Sold Scottish and English editions with a partner,
then opened a bookstore where he sold a large and valuable assortment
of European books.
1766. Cox and Berry. Dealers in English books.
1767. Joseph Snelling. A binder who also sold school books.
1770. John Langdon. Began business with a good assortment of books
and also did binding.
1771. Henry Knox. After an apprenticeship with Wharton and Bowes, he
opened a large store with a valuable collection of books. Despite
having no military training, he displayed superior military talents
during the war and was promoted to the rank of Major General.
Most bookselling prior to the Revolution was done in Boston, but
Thomas also lists a dozen other booksellers operating in other
Massachusetts towns. (Page 212-214)
Because copyright laws were not in effect, most booksellers contracted
with local printers to publish books and pamphlets as the opportunity
arose. Most books came from the printer in either plain boards or in
wraps. Book purchasers would take their books to a binder to have
them bound according to their budget.
Thomas also lists 48 booksellers doing business in Philadelphia and
several other towns between 1692 and 1773. He also lists 12
booksellers doing business in New York prior to the Revolution, and
three in Charleston.
Of course, practically every printing establishment would do "job"
printing for local citizens, and would print books and pamphlets on
politics, religion or local history. Thomas also gives information on
early paper mills and type foundries in America.
Source:
Thomas, Isaiah. The History of Printing in America. 1970. New York.
Weathervane Books for the Imprint Society.
I hope this information is useful when discussing where Colonial era
Americans obtained their books.
Jim McMeans.
***************************************************************
You are invited to check out the following:
The Rise of the Theocratic States of America
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocracy.htm
American Theocrats - Past and Present
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/theocrats.htm
The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
[and to join the discussion group for the above site and/or Separation of
Church and State in general, listed below]
HRSepCnS · Historical Reality SepChurch&State
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HRSepCnS/
***************************************************************
.. . . You can't understand a phrase such as "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion" by syllogistic reasoning. Words
take their meaning from social as well as textual contexts, which is why "a
page of history is worth a volume of logic." New York Trust Co. v. Eisner,
256 U.S. 345, 349, 41 S.Ct. 506, 507, 65 L.Ed. 963 (1921) (Holmes, J.).
Sherman v. Community Consol. Dist. 21, 980 F.2d 437, 445 (7th Cir. 1992)
.. . .
****************************************************************
USAF LT. COL (Ret) Buffman (Glen P. Goffin) wrote
"You pilot always into an unknown future;
facts are your only clue. Get the facts!"
That philosophy 'snipit' helped to get me, and my crew, through a good
many combat missions and far too many scary, inflight, emergencies.
It has also played a significant role in helping me to expose the
plethora of radical Christian propaganda and lies that we find at
almost every media turn.
*****************************************************************
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE:
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
http://members.tripod.com/~candst/index.html
****************************************************************
.
|
