Page:The Cambridge History of American Literature, v4.djvu/131

Mechanical Improvements 543 Besides the beginnings in the reflection of American con- sciousness of nationalism and the noteworthy increase in school books of our own authorship and manufacture, the period immediately after 1812 was made notable by the many mechanical improvements introduced. In 18 13 stereotyping was first employed. Iron presses began to replace the old wooden ones about i8i7;ini8i9 our first lithograph appeared, though about 1802 Mathew Carey had corresponded with Didot concerning his method of lithographing ; while about 1 825 bindings were cheapened by the use of muslin. Type casting had been attempted as early as 1768 and made a success of but a few years later. Therefore, though as late as 1834 Audubon was publishing in Edinburgh, primarily for mechanical reasons apparently, and though even in 1835 Harper & Brothers printed all their books on hand presses, yet by the end of the first quarter of the nineteenth century, American publication may be said to have passed through the period of mechanical adolescence. At the very end of this period the annuals began to appear. Through their profusion of illustrations they notably raised, the standard of the publisher's art all over the civilized world. The year 1843 was distinguished by the publication of Har- pev's Pictorial Bible and the Verplanck Shakespeare, which, con- taining as they did over 2500 pictures, strikingly emphasized the development of wood engraving ; while, says Major G. H. Putnam, "beginning with 1869 the art of printing with the best possible artistic effects large impressions of carefully made illustrations was developed in the United States to an extent that has never been equalled in any other country."' __ This constant mechanical improvement had, of course, the inevitable effect of cheapening the price of books, especially when reinforced by conditions growing out of the lack of an international copyright law. Accordingly, a Httle while after it became clear that stereotyping was a success, there was a noticeable lessening in price. Before this period, though there were no heavy advertising bills as at present, books, because of the cost of mechanical production and of carrying charges, especially of overland transportation, were markedly higher than they are today, measured in terms of labour and its pro- ' Putnam, G. H., George Palmer Putnam: A Memoir, p. 364.