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Article: Publishing Industry
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic History
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PUBLISHING INDUSTRY
Book publishing began to flourish in the American colonies during the eighteenth century. Printing began in 1639 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and expanded geographically to Boston in 1674, Philadelphia in 1685, and New York City in 1693. Almanacs, primers, and law books were published; theology being the most popular subject. Books were sold in various ways: through subscription, by the printer, in the streets by hawkers, and in shops by booksellers. Hezekiah Usher, who added books to his general merchandise inventory around 1647, may have been the first American bookseller.
The availability of reading matter after 1650 contributed to the spread of literacy and an ...