Foreign writers would have the world believe that the United States can boast of no ceramic history. Even our own chroniclers have, singularly enough, neglected a branch of our industrial progress which is not altogether insignificant nor devoid of interest. On the contrary, it can be shown that the fictile art is almost as ancient in this country as in Great Britain, and has been developed in almost parallel, though necessarily narrower, lines.<br><br>The need of a history of the Pottery Industry in America has long been felt, and has led to the preparation of the present volume, which, it is hoped, will be found to possess some interest to the student of ceramics, as well as to the collector.<br><br>The author claims that his work is not a mere compilation, but has been based almost entirely upon thorough personal investigations. Some of the time-honored fallacies which have been perpetuated by compilers have been omitted from this record, and special care has been taken to avoid the use of statements which could not be substantiated.