"The American Printer: A Manual of Typography" by Thomas MacKellar is a book about the skills and techniques of typography. It was probably written in the late 1800s. This guide is meant for printers and people in the publishing business, and it also gives information about how printing methods and tools have changed over time. The book covers how to run different parts of a printing shop and includes helpful advice for people learning the trade. The beginning of the book explains what it's about and uses a preface to introduce the main topics. It aims to give useful, real-world information based on the author's experience and what is commonly done in the industry. The book also mentions other works about typography. It starts with a look at the history of printing, including people like Laurentius Koster and Johannes Gutenberg. This background helps readers understand how printing has developed and gives them the knowledge needed to work in typography or run a printing office. The manual is useful for writers, publishers, and those who want to become printers.