Author: LIVINGSTON, Robert R.
Title: Essay on Sheep: their varieties - account of the Merinoes of Spain, France &c. Reflections on the best method of rearing them, and raising a flock in the United States; together with miscellaneous remarks on sheep and woollen manufactures.
Description: Concord N.H. Daniel Cooledge 1813. 12mo in sixes publisher's quarter calf and marbled boards; 143pp, a wood engraved Merino on the title. Some browning and signs of use but a pleasing original copy. ¶ Third edition; first published in 1809. Livingston is remembered in America but not, outside sheep circles, for introducing the Merino to America; unlike Macarthur in Australia who has a prominent place in the history books and whose portrait, along with a merino, adorned our currency for some time. Still, Livingston did pretty well out of them anyway even if he did have to, as has been stated, create his own boom by buying back his own stock until the rising prices caught the interest of others. And he got his own stamp - but for his political and diplomatic achievements. This is an extended advertisement for the Merino but he does pack in some practical lessons learnt first hand. Livingston was aware of Macarthur - he introduces him as the success story of the southern hemisphere - and it seems inconceivable that this book in turn wasn't used in Australia but of the four editions (three American and one London edition with notes by William Cobbett) I can only trace the copies in the Mitchell Library (this edition) and Sydney University.

Keywords: agriculture technology sheep farming c19th America Australia economics trades