Page:Luther S. Livingston (Parker).djvu/26

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L·S·L

vided the substance and much of the phraseology for articles on that plant printed since its appearance.

Most of his bibliographical work was done with books which were in his hands pending their sale by Dodd, Mead & Company. The unusual value of the catalogues issued by that house was recognized widely for some time before bookmen who were not conversant with the New York trade gossip became aware of Livingston's part in them. The extent to which his notes on rare volumes and peculiar editions have been copied by other book sellers is the convincing tribute to the thoroughness with which he exhausted each subject that he undertook to examine.

Many of the choicest books that changed hands during the latter part of the nineteenth century became the property of Elihu Dwight Church of Brooklyn. When his library began to surpass other private collections of Americana and of English literature, Mr. Church asked Livingston to make a printed catalogue of his books. Much of the work of collating as well as the preparation of historical and bibliographical notes had been done before the books were sold to Mr. Church, but this material