Excerpt from American Dictionary of Printing and Bookmaking: Containing a History of These Arts in Europe and America, With Definitions of Technical Terms and Biographical Sketches

Much space has been given to historical and biographical matter. Begin ning with the invention of the art, the changes and improvements in each line down to the present day have been told. Part of this is given under countries and cities; part under machines or new processes; but a very large part under biographical not-ices. The latter have been illustrated wherever practicable. The biographies of people who have lived or are now living in the United States are particularly numerous. They include the officers of the Typothetae and the presidents of the International Union, besides the most prominent inventors, type-founders and printing-machine makers, with a multitude of others who have attained distinction in some one of the arts. Not one has been inserted for personal reasons.

When the plan of this dictionary was submitted by W. W. Pasko to the late Howard Lockwood it was considered by the latter for a long time. This was his custom. He decided no important question in haste. Nothing was said for years, but when the firm finally decided to enter upon its publication it was warmly taken up. An agreement was made with Mr. Pasko to prepare the work and carry it to completion within four years. Mr. Lockwood scrutinized all of the proofs, and entered into all details with great interest. When, in October, 1892, it reached the letter L he was urged to allow a sketch of himself to be prepared and used. He shrunk from this, with the modesty inherent in his nature, but finally consented. A brief notice was made ready and given to him, that it might be revised as to dates and names. He did not return it. Presently all the type in the font was set up, leaving a gap under Lo. Work ceased. Thus it stood when his sudden death came. The bit of copy which had not been returned was never found; the article about him now in the book was afterwards written, and the work proceeded.

Much obligation must be expressed to Theodore Low De Vinne, the great printer, for his kindly assistance, his indication of authorities, his decision of knotty quest-ions, his loan of illustrations, and his permission to borrow freely from his two principal books, the Invention of Printing and the Printers'

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