Welsh Journals

A Welsh-American Bibliography-A Suggestion By Wm. Williams THE first Welsh book was probably published in London in the year 1546 or 1547.1 It seems strange to think that the first press set up in what is now the United States of America was not established until nearly a century later, in 1639, in Massachusetts, and that in some of the western states of the Union printing presses were unknown until well into the second half of the nineteenth century, e.g., the first known printing in the state of Wyoming is dated 1863. Despite this late beginning, however, the output of the American press has reached enormous proportions and, probably, more books are now published annually in the United States than in any other country in the world. The field of bibliographical research in the United States is thus an extensive one, and although the histories of printing are few, the number of special bibliographies is legion. The latter are usually confined to a single state. Many of the historical societies of the various states are concerned with the recording of early imprints in order to compile accurate historical accounts of the pioneer printers, and have published, or subsidized the publication of, special mono- graphs and bibliographies of the earlier output of their respective printing presses. Two comprehensive attempts have been made, with a large measure of success, to compile national bibliographies of the United States. One, by Charles Evans,2 is a work which is still in progress. It is arranged in a chronological sequence. The other, by Joseph Sabin3 and others, is an alphabetical arrangement by authors of books printed in or relating to America. 1 See The Journal of the Welsh Bibliographical Society, vo1. IV, 1932-36, p. 33. American Bibliography. A chronological dictionary of all looks, pamphlets, and periodical publications printed in the United States of America down to and including the year 1820, by Charles Evans. 12 vols. (Chicago, 1903-34). In progress. A Dictionary of books relating to America, from iis discovery to the present time, by Joseph Sabin, and others. 29 vols. (New York,