Although advertising agencies started in the late 1800’s, most histories of advertising start in the mid-19th century. Advertising took a leap forward with the appearance of the printing press and movable type (Ad Land). In 1842, Volney B. Palmer opened the first advertising agency in the United States. Located at the ‘N.W. Corner of Third and Chestnut Street, Philadelphia,’ Palmer’s office was an unlikely precursor of today’s agency monoliths (Ad Land, 14). The earliest advertising agents worked for newspapers rather than for advertisers. The agencies served as a broker of advertising space in newspapers and magazines. George P. Rowell, a Boston-based advertising agent “complied a directory of advertising rates covering almost every newspaper
