"A Brief Account of the Educational Publishing Business in the United States" is a historical account likely written in the early 20th century. The book documents the history and evolution of educational publishing in America, beginning from the development of early textbooks such as "The New England Primer" in 1691 to the advancements in textbook production and content in the modern era. It provides insights into the key figures, events, and changes that shaped educational literature and book-making practices in the U.S. The opening of the book sets the stage by highlighting the lack of comprehensive historical accounts of the educational publishing industry, despite the existence of various writings on specific aspects. It outlines an extensive array of early American textbooks and publishers and illustrates the significant changes in content, typography, and illustrations over the centuries. The author emphasizes the contrast between archaic schoolbooks – characterized by grim morals or complex problems – and contemporary educational materials which have evolved to be more engaging and visually appealing for students. The text also calls for a more thorough compilation and analysis of this history, appealing for future scholarship to fully capture the development of educational publishing. (This is an automatically generated summary.)