Source:Fleming-publishers-2
George T. Fleming. "Pioneer publishers of Pittsburgh: Z. Cramer, a border-town bookbinder who became a great publisher—John Gilkison, law student and book seller, also prothonotary—how Brackenridge's ample aid sustained and advanced a relative: Gilkison's early death puts book store on the market with Cramer the purchaser—'The Sign of the Franklin Head' that became famous—Cramer's Almanacs and 'The Navigator'—view of Pittsburgh, 1803." Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Sept. 30, 1923, sec. 5, [p. 2]. Newspapers.com 85494340.
ZADOK Cramer's activity as a publisher of books and periodicals in Pittsburgh for 13 years, 1800–1813, and some account of his output form the theme of today's story. Some mention of him concluded the story on this page last Sunday. He was a Jerseyman and about aged 27, when he came to Pittsburgh. By trade he was a bookbinder, and beginning business soon after his arrival here as a bookseller, he naturally associated his trade and its related trade, printing. He was a frail man, that is not robust and died when he attained middle age.
The wonder grows, when studying his life and works, that, considering his physical condition, he was able to accomplish so much in his line in the way of useful books, practical and valuable, and also in the production of standard works of the times, such tending to the education and uplift of the comparatively few inhabitants of the border town of Pittsburgh in the first decade of the Nineteenth Century and continuing to educate and uplift for a score of years. All through the story of Zadok Cramer one's admiration for the man is maintained and when his brief biography is laid aside a sigh, perhaps scarcely audible, escapes the reader—surely a deep feeling of regret that Cramer could not have been allotted the scriptural span of life.
Cramer did not bring a stock of books with him to Pittsburgh slowly over the long road crossing the Allegheny Mountains, at great expense. Nor did he send for them after coming here. He was a resident of Washington, Pa., from his boyhood and came here from that town in March 1800. His first thought was to open a book bindery. Looking backwards, the opinion is easily formed that he could have expected but a meager custom. For whom could he bind? Perhaps for John Scull, the only printer in the town until the arrival of John Israel, also from Washington, Pa., who began the publication of The Tree of Liberty in July 1800. Cramer must have had an ambition that passed beyond the tedium of mere binding. He was farseeing and fortune, that is chance, favored him at the very outset.
Some account of the early book trade of Pittsburgh seems necessary here. The publication of the third volume of Brackenridge's work, "Modern Chivalry," by John Scull in 1793, the first volume printed west of the Alleghenies, created an interest in books which increased with the opening of the first book store that year. This was William Semple's, located in a large stone building on Second street (now avenue), on the upper side and one door west of Chancery lane. Semple advertised in The Pittsburgh Gazette in November, 1793, notifying the community that he had for sale quarto pocket and school Bibles, spelling books, primers, dictionaries, almanacs, English and Dutch, and an assortment of religious, historical and "novel books." Semple continued at this location for some years. He was there at the time of the Whisky Insurrection, in the summer of 1794. Semple sold other merchandise also.
H. H. Brackenridge was a patron of literature and to him must be accorded the credit for the opening of a store exclusively for the sale of books and pamphlets. This was opened in 1798, in the wing of a house of Brackenridge's ready aid began the sale of but partially occupied by Brackenridge [sic]. The bookseller was John C. Gilkison, a relative of Brackenridge's and a student of law in Brackenridge's office. In December, 1798, Gilkison advertised in The Pittsburgh Gazette that he followed the occupation of a scrivener, preparing such legal papers as were demanded of him. Gilkison was a tutor of Henry Marie Brackenridge, a fact that distinguished jurist recorded in the opening lines of Chapter VIII of his book, "Recollections of Persons and Places in the West." Naturally Gilkison was close to the elder Brackenridge and found in him a powerful supporter.
Gilkison abandoned the intention of becoming a lawyer and with Brackenridge's ready aid began the sale of books as a business. His first advertisement in The Gazette December 29, 1798, contained some brief, straightforward statements, that he had opened a small book and stationery store, and had a variety of books for sale, especially school books; that he expected to increase his assortment of these and to keep it up as the encouragement of the public might enable him; he had also some books of general instruction, and some of amusement, which he would sell or lend for a reasonable time, at a reasonable price.
Gilkison, it may be noted, had the circulating idea; he was also, unmindful of the tragic failure of John Boyd 10 years previously. But we are coming back soon to Zadok Cramer. Gilkison's little store bade fare to prosper, and did—but not under him, for here we can emit a sigh for Gilkison's early passing. We have read in some late stories in this page of the warm politics of this period of our history. How with the rise of the Jefferson party, and the triumph of that party in Pennsylvania there arose the political maxim, "To the Victors Belong the Spoils." Gov. Thomas McKean in the exemplication [sic] of this doctrine appointed H. H. Brackenridge to the Supreme bench of the state—this on the very next day to McKean's inauguration. Brackenridge, with sundry grievances against Prothonotary James Brison of Allegheny County, secured Brison's removal and had Gilkison appointed in his stead. This was in January, 1800. In less than two months Gilkison was dead. Brison had held the office from the creation of the county in September, 1788.
Here came Cramer's opportunity to embark in the book business. Brackenridge was a creditor of Gilkison's; in the opinion of many having staked Gilkison in the venture, and to him devolved the duty of settling Gilkison's estate. Brackenridge's terms were easy. Cramer took over the business in June, 1800, as his advertisements in The Pittsburgh Gazette that month attest. Cramer was a strong believer in the value of advertising and was a good patron of Editor Scull and did not hesitate to favor the newspapers that came after The Pittsburgh Gazette, The Tree of Liberty and Pentland's Commonwealth.
Thus it appears that March 30, 1800, Cramer announced the opening of his bookbindery in The Pittsburgh Gazette. Four months later almost to a day the advertisement of his book store appeared. His bookbinding advertisement states that,
"Under the conviction that an establishment of the above named business will meet the approbation and encouragement of the inhabitants of Pittsburgh and its vicinity, the undersigned is determined to prosecute it as soon as he can make the necessary arrangements. His hopes of the success of this undertaking are flattering; he hopes likewise that the public on whom he is depending for encouragement will not be disappointed in placing in him that confidence merited only by industry and attention to their favors."
Sounds good—that ad. Cramer was hopeful—he admits it. "He had his nerve with him," our twentieth century slang could put it. Perhaps he had in mind the printing venture of John Scull and Joseph Hall in 1786, who had most admirable nerve when they began the publication of The Pittsburgh Gazette in a border town. Fourteen years had vastly improved Pittsburgh, but in 1800 it was still a border town.
It was greatly important that Cramer's new venture be given wide publicity. This Cramer did with a well worded address to the people of the Western country. He did not intend his business should be limited to the narrow confines of the Borough of Pittsburgh; he said, but wanted an extensive trade. He could make blank books he said, further, and do bookbinding nearly, if not quite as cheap as it could be done east of the mountains, meaning in Philadelphia, or New York. He "played up" the book store that he had just purchased and the selection of nearly 800 volumes on hand available for circulation.
Gilkison's stand was on market street, on the east side, between Front and Second streets (First and Second avenues now). This was a good location; Water, Front, Market and Second were the main business streets. Cramer advertised in 1800 that he was "between two printing offices," meaning Scull's Gazette office and Israel's" Tree of Liberty. Cramer had a fitting sign made and put up on his shop. Benjamin Franklin remains to this day the patron saint of every one in any manner connecting with the "art preservative of all arts." Hence his store marker destined to be famous, the sign of the Franklin head, "Hereon Benjamin's caput, a wooden counterpart (to be exact) with Benjamin's amiable smile, also in wood, stood for many years. These [sic] are books today extant that state they were printed in Pittsburgh at the "Sign of Franklin Head."
At the very outset of his business career Cramer called himself, "Book Binder and Publisher." He had qualified in the art of binding; he was soon to shine in the role of a publisher. He felt his way cautiously and made sure of his footing, hence his first publication did not appear for four months after he obtained the Gilkison book store. About the middle of October, 1800, the Pittsburgh public were informed that within a few weeks almanacs for 1801 could be procured from him at Philadelphia prices.
The presidential election of 1800 was not decided by the people, no candidate having received a plurality. John Adams was defeated and was out. Jefferson and Burr tied in the electoral college, and the election thus thrown into the House of Representatives led to an acute and most protracted struggle with Jefferson the winner on the thirty-sixth ballot by states, Burr becoming vice president. This was the one great victory for the Jeffersonian, or Republican party. Here was Cramer's opportunity—a business opportunity for another kind of a book than an almanac. Jefferson was inaugurated March 4, 1801. In less than three weeks Cramer's little book giving the history of our first great contest for the presidency was being sold at the "Sign of the Franklin Head."
Cramer followed Gilkison with the circulating scheme and advertised it as the Pittsburgh Circulating Library. He made it a success. The story of this library is a separate and most interesting one, that will not be taken up now, nor incorporated as a chapter in the account of Cramer's publishing business. Cramer's circulating books became the nucleus of the Pittsburgh Library Company's stock of 2,000 volumes, this company organized in November, 1813, shortly after Cramer's death. John Spear, who had become a partner of Cramer's in the publishing business, was one of the managers of the Pittsburgh Permanent Library Company a short history of which can be found in Riddle's Directory of Pittsburgh for 1815, where Spear is named as treasurer, and the Rev. Francis Herron, president. Twelve directors, all prominent citizens of the town composed the board of directors.
Cramer became well known, even nationally, from two publications that had a long run. These were his famous almanacs, and his equally noted "Navigators." The few copies extant today of these works are highly prized and among the most valuable of that material of dealers in old books known as Americana." The proper titles for these publications are as follows: "The Navigator," Cramer's "Magazine Almanack," his "Pittsburgh Almanack, and his "Pittsburgh Magazine Almanack," the word always printed with final k in the title.
To do justice to these publications in a literary review one should obtain access to them in the libraries, and study their contents, make up, illustrations and typography. The almanacs are certainly curious and the "navigators" were most valuable in their day. Several tourists in the Western country during those early years of the Republic attest their value. By 1804 Cramer begun [sic] the publication of another type of almanae [sic] called the "Common Almanck [sic]." The almanacs besides the usual astronomical features, were filled with miscellany—selections from English writers—scarcely any American writers having been accorded space. Cramer was also an educator. As he thought the people should know the constitution of the United States he published it in full in his almanac. He recorded lists of local marriages and deaths. This alone entitles him lasting gratitude, for church records are few, intermittent and imperfect. Family records scarcely any more reliable, few going back more than a few score years, hence Cramer builded well.
In 1804 Cramer printed "A View of the Manufacturing Trade of Pittsburgh," and from that time until the almanacs were discontinued, 27 years in all. Much local statistical and historical matter pertaining to Pittsburgh was given space. In a note appended to the historical account of Pittsburgh in the Directory of 1815, Robert [sic] M. Riddle, the compiler, and publisher states:
"It is but an act of justice to mention that for the statements contained in the above description I am in a great measure indebted to 'The Navigator,' published by Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum."
In Isaac Harris' second directory of our city, that appeared in 1841, Mr. Harris, who was the third directory compiler and publisher, says under the head, "Pittsburgh in Olden Time—The Contrast:"
"We have selected from Cramer, Spear & Eichbaum's excellent Magazine Almanac the first view of the business of Pittsburgh, which, with our early history of it, will furnish a faithful contrast, and show how we commenced, progressed and our present business." After a page of introduction, dated Pittsburgh, September 23, 1803, "the view" follows, altogether statistical. Similar matter taken from the same source pertaining to the manufacturing interests of Pittsburgh for 1808 followed. A few paragraphs concerning Pittsburgh in 1809 have been included by Mr. Harris in his directory edition of 1841. They are too long for our story today, but as Harris' directories are readily accessible in the public libraries these extracts preserved by Harris will permit an insight into the method, and the extent to which Zadok Cramer advertised the town, and we are to remember that when he arrived Pittsburgh had less than 1,600 inhabitants and Allegheny county about 15,000. However, the Western country was growing apace.
Much can be written concerning Cramer's Navigators, and much also concerning his other publications, especially noting the scores of books that emanated from the printing presses at the "Sign of the Franklin Head" in Pittsburgh.
It is evident to those who know C. W. Dahlinger's work, "Early Social Life of Pittsburgh," that the author thereof has been relied on today for many of the historical facts herein. Naturally, for he has rescued the name of our really great publisher from oblivion and given us as veritable and important historical matter all that is available concerning Zadok Cramer.
