Introduction to <i>The Old Booksellers of New York and other papers</i>
- by Bruce E. McKinney
Exceptional engravings, cartouches and printing are all elements in Andrews books.
“The First Illustrated Magazine Published in New York.”
Mr. Andrews gives Samuel Louden, bookseller and proprietor of the New York Packet, the honor of first publishing a magazine in New York. It was the American and it was edited by Noah Webster. It was first published for December, 1787 and expired in November 1788. Next came the New York magazine that began publication in 1790 and expired in 1797. The early histories of other publications located outside New York are also briefly mentioned.
This section continues on with an explanation of why these publications have become quite collectible. Here is a hint. It wasn’t the editorial matter. It was the images, some of which are the oldest of their kind relating to New York. They were rare and expensive in 1890.
The Early American Almanac
The final essay concerns almanacs. The second printed item in what became in time the United States was, according to Mr. Andrew’s description, “An Almanac for the Year of our Lord 1639. He attributes it to William Pierce. He then follows the development of this print form through to Poor Richard himself, Benjamin Franklin. Those who follow the almanac market on eBay know that the enthusiastic and the knowledgeable cross swords on a regular basis for early examples of this printed form.
All in all this is both a rather brief book, only about 15,000 words, but rather packed with interesting information.
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