There was little need for paperbacks before the American Revolution.

Paperbound books made no sense, not to the publisher, not to the customer. For the former, there was no real economic benefit to paper binding. With the introduction of a paper-making machine, the revolution in inexpensive pulp paper, and the invention of a binding glue still years in the future, publishers used costly paper handmade from cotton and linen rags whether the book was to be paper-wrapped or not. Wood was plentiful and cheap, and boards could be wrapped cheaply in a cloth for use as cover, so the final cost of producing a hardback was not significantly greater than the cost of issuing paper-wrapped books. And this would remain true until the early 20th century; indeed, as late as the 1930's new hardbacks could easily be purchased for the cost of the paper-wrapped verstion.

Even if there had been a significant price difference, the consumer wanted the hardbound book. Reading requires education and leisure time, and the combination generally suggests the wealthy man. Able to afford hardbacks, the reading public had not interest in acquiring libraries of paperbound books. The market was simply not there.

Exceptions exist to most statements, and here the exceptions were books whose contents were quickly time-dated, hence, "disposable", Examples would be almanacs with information that within a time period, usually a year, would be out-dated. the earliest of these came from Bradford's press in Philadelphia (1687), the most famous example is no doubt Poor Richard's Almanac (1732). Another class of timed material consisted of broadsides issued to promote legislation, religious meetings, or some similar time-event. Frequently no more than a single page, they barely even qualify as "books" properly speaking.

As newspapers grew in popularity, they moved from being strictly religious publications to more secular organs and varied greatly in size. To gain readership, many became increasingly shrill and sensational, issuing continuing articles on true crimes and romances. From these emerged fictional crimes and romances, and the arrival of one of the first distinctively American publications, the chapbook.

Historian Harry Weiss has estimated that by the time of the American Revolution chapbooks fell into the following categories: 28% were religious works, 25% were fictional romances, 15% were biographical, 13% accounts of true crimes, and the remainders were joke books, and song books. The best-selling chapbooks---the ones that caused the most sensation---offered so-called factual accounts of white women raised by/kidnapped by/abused by Indians. None could be presented as serious literature; again, there was no reason to present serious writing in paper-bound editions. When serious literature met the chapbook, the latter usually presented butchered versions, such as the popular "Only the Good Parts of Moll Flanders". (Click here to see the entire chapbook of Robinson Crusoe)

Chapbooks drew the wrath of such men as preacher Jonathan Edwards who railed against them from pulpits and courthouses. What offended most, however, was not so much the writing, which most couldn't read anyway, but the illustrations. Crude lines etched on wood and pressed with ink onto the paper, the drawings were crude and disgusting---even by "modern" standards. Beheadings were popular, as were dismembered arms and legs dripping blood.

The only serious work of literature issued in paperback was John Bell's series on British Poets. Over 190 volumes were issued, each sold for a shilling, but none of the editions ever became popular with those who read poetry.