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MARYLAND IMPRINTS INTRODUCTION
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of Congress, were arranged by the staff of the Union
Catalog Division, a necessary preliminary which did much
to simplify my early investigations.
In addition, the resources of the Maryland Histor-
ical Society, the Enoch Pratt Free Library, the Peabody
Institute Library, the American Antiquarian Society, and
the Rare Books Division of the Library of Congress were
surveyed and many items added. Nearly 95% of the items
located have been described after actual inspection.
The problem of describing pieces of printing which
no longer exist was met principally from two sources,
newspapers and the Votes and proceedings of the Maryland
General Assembly.
Brlgham's American newspapers enabled me to scan
advertisements in all existing Maryland papers for the
period, a task made easier by the fact that a very high
proportion of the issues is to be found in Baltimore.
Items referred to in newspaper advertisements were in-
cluded In the bibliography only if there seemed a strong
presumption that the printing had actually been done in
Maryland. I have noted the supporting evidence in each
instance.
One notable exclusion should be mentioned. Many
playbills were undoubtedly printed, but in view of the
conventional references to them ("Particulars expressed
in the bills", "With sundry other entertainments, which
will be expressed in the bills of the day") repeatedly
used in advertisements of performances it seemed wisest
not to establish them on so precarious foundations.
The Votes and proceedings were scanned for orders
to the state printer to print certain acts and bills.
A direct order to the printer was taken as sufficient
evidence for inclusion, even though unfortunately the
supporting vouchers have disappeared. The only evidence
that remains in the Hall of Records at Annapolis is the
Journal of accounts of the Committee of Claims of the
House of Delegates, in which sums paid Frederick Green
are recorded but not itemized.
So many items are extant in so few copies (e.g.,
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