The founder of colonial printing and bookselling was Jesse Glover, he explains the changing significance of the terms, printer, bookseller and publisher. He views the American "bookseller" as usually combining all three in one business and, as he says, "takes some account of him in all these aspects or offices."(American Bookselling) These trends helped to develop the mass production of, as well as the mass demand for books. What was needed next was a way of getting these books to the people that wanted them in a prolific manner. .
Beginning in the 19th century the book trade was establishing itself as a legitimate business but was in search of a dominant system. In the 18th century the book industry was trying to establish itself as well as get away from trends that would leave the business vulnerable. They started trying to establish the business with the use of Trade Sales. These Trade Sales could be dated back to England and the year 1718. (Hackeberg) Trade Sales were meant to be the modern business practices of the book trade but it's problems developed. At these Trade Sales, sales were available in the $100's to $1000's of dollars. Parcel Sales developed in New York in 1840 but never made a large impact on the industry. Trade Sales declined for a time because of the Civil War but picked up soon after. Problems soon began to arise with the practices of these trades, however. With the availability to buy the books in such quantity, wholesalers began to swamp the market. And price-cutting as well as underselling was being blamed on the New York Trade Sales. These problems led to a discourse in the book industry. The American Book Trade Convention called for replacement of Trade Sales with a semi-annual Book Fair. And so on July 3, 1875 the first established Book Fair was held. Book Fairs had been tried before but never had they become established. This Book Fair resulted in the sales of $300,000.