Show ALMANAC AN interesting collection IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS gohd men who are ettli balna the kirbt almanac makere yearly almanzon Alma naon the rase since the sixteenth century one ortho most curious collections at the library ot Is that or almanacs these publications which aa advertising mediums are left at the door often to bo at once thrown carelessly into the have a striking and venerable history it la balu contended by many authorities that the almanac of 1457 was the first specimen of printing and it has been variously credited to gutenberg Se haeffer and of bamberg dr faustus celebrated in legend whose strange story baa been immortalized by marlowe and goethe was the accredited author of almanacs containing astrological signs retained at the present day and necromantic secrets poor richards almanac the production of benjamin franklin Is well known as a treasury of homely wit and wisdom one of the greatest of modem german authors auerbach first won ats way to popular esteem by using the almanac as a vehicle for hla talents a famous german lathema tl cinn under the patronage of matthias corvinus king of hungary published series of almanacs from 1476 to asoo and yearly almanacs became an established custom in the sixteenth century henry III of prance in 1379 enacted that the almanac should not be made the instrument of partisan politics by the introduction of prophecies against parties and individuals in the elate the first almanac in the modern chape appeared in england in 1673 it was compiled by maurice wheeler canon of oxford aud was printed in that city the sale was eo great that the booksellers of loudon bought the copyright in order to monopolize no its subsequent sales alio armanac AJ manac Ilo fails contained notices of pastimes court hecei alon days fairs and markets to which were added soon afterward the gen callogy of the reigning bouse etc in england jamea I 1 granted a monopoly of the trade to the universities I 1 and the stationery stationers ers company subject i to the censorship of the archbishop of canterbury and the bishop of london the universities accepted an annuity from their colleagues and resigned the active exercise of their privilege into tha hands of the stationery stationers Station ers under their supervision were conducted the popular known as moores fed partridges ages the latter of which v a humorously attacked by poor roalna almanac published from 1852 to roar have furnished n model at ifasi in for poor richard and tuo x of found room in tt es the stationery stationers Station ers like n genuine ottos of abo time no allty of their own aad exhibiting no blab except or what would 11 a wab proved in 1624 when ther issued sat oc in one aad bitterly contradicted them in acothley tho ramous Alin anac purported to be edited by moore physician the original moore died la but abo publication waa tul harocd as if hla and in its B rival arose in another almanac claiming to bo aba genuine frencl boora A arcag iw ault followed which ws decided the monopoly 0 tho station w company A bill to genaw and jbv arl wa tatt brought in bouso in 0 conon by lord 1770 but lord barrister ye moat brilliantly the octha publication and the bill waa defeated although the privilege was thus destroyed st tho stationery stationers Station ers purchased their rival and continued to hold the field alth a but slightly improved style of publication until when the society for the diffusion of useful edge published the british almanac and demolished their alth the able assistance of the dall press which BO vigorously the stationery stationers ers publication that that company waa constrained to follow the new example in the English mans almanac the uniform price for an english almanac for many years was a penny but the monopoly increased the price and the imposition of the stamp taxes after queen annes time raised it still more in 1781 moores almanac was two being for the stamp in 1790 it rose to Is ad and in 1810 to an almanac was established by isaiah thomas in worcester mass which gained and established an extraordinary tra ordinary repute in 1780 from the happy accident that as it was being set up one of the boys asked what should be placed against the of july mr thomas in careless haste answered anything anything tha lad literally obedient set up rain hall and snow the diligent readers were surprised but when the day came the prediction was fulfilled it really did rain ball and snow on the of that anly and the fortune 0 the almanac was made the almanac de gotha Is the best known of the german publications Is the standard english publication of the kind while n this country several of the large newspapers issue annual almanacs the stray production however with its old astrological tr and magical symbols of faust must ever possess an interest tor the curious who are versed ln the history of almanacs washington times |