The Washington times., 1901-12-15
A Curious Collection at the Library
Of Congress.
WELL KNOWN PUBLICATIONS
large Sums Earned by Those Issu-
ing the Most Popular of These
Little BooIs-A Careless Prcdic-
tion That Cnme True.

able history.
1t is still contended by many authori-
ties that the almanac of 1857 was the
first specimen o. printing, and it has beer
variously credited to Gutenberg. Schaeffei
and Phster, of Bamberg. Dr. Faustus
celebrated in legend, whose strange story
has been immortalized by Marlowe ant
Goethe, was the accredited author of al
manacs containing astrological signs ire
tained at the present day. and necroman-
tic secrets. Poor Richards Almanac" the
production of Benjamin Franklin, is well
known as treasury of homely wit and
wisdom. One of the greatest of modern
German authors, Auerbach, first won his
way to popular esteem by using the al
manac as a vehicle for his talents.
Introduction of Yearly AImanncs.
Reyiomontanus, a famous German
mathematician, under the patronage Of
Matthias Corvinus. King of Hungary. pub
lished a series OF alThanacs from 1875 to
! 1906, and yearly almanacs became an es-
tablished custom in the sixteenth cen
/ tury. Henry III of France, in 1879, en-
acted that the almanac should not be
made the instrument OF partisan politics
by the introduction of prophecies against
parties and individuals in the State.
The first almanac in the modern shape
! appeared in England in 1873 1t was COM
piled by Maurice Wheeler. Canon of Christ
Church, Oxford, and was printed IN that
city. tt lie sale was so great that the
tookselle.s of London bought the copy
right in order to monorolize its subse-
Quent sales. The Almanac Royal" Of
Paris, 1857, contained notices of pas
times. court reception days, fairs, and
markets. to which were added soon after
ward the genealogy of the reigning house,
list of the clergy, etc.
Granted n Monopoly.
In England, James granted monopoly
of the trade TO the universities and the
stationers' Company. subject to the cen
sorship of the Archbishop OF Canterbury
and the Bishop OF London. The universi-
ties accepted an annuity from their roll
leagues, and resigned the active exercise
Of their privilege into the hands Of the
Stationers. Under their supervision. were
conducted the popular almanacs. known as
Moore s" and "Partridge's, " the latter OF
which was humorously attacked by Swift.
Poor Robins Almanac" published from
1852 to 1925 may have furnished a model.
at least in title, for Franklins Poor
Richard"
Popular superstitions and the extrava-
Eances of astrology found room in these
almanacs, the Stationers, like a genuine
corporation or trust" of the time. hav-
Ing no personality Of their own, and ex-
hibiting no special bias. except for what
would sell. he was particularly proved in
1924 when they issued a set Of predic-
tions in one almanac and bitterly contra
dicted them in another.
The Francis Moore Publication.
The famous 'Moore's Almanac" pur-
ported to be edited by Francis Moore.
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1924, but the publication was still
issued as If under his supervision. and
in l775 a vigorous rival arose in another
almanac claiming TO be the genuine Fran
els Moore. great lawsuit followed,
which was decided against the monopoly
of the stationers' Company. a bill to re-
new and legalize the privilege was
brought into the House Of Commons by
Lord North in 1879. but Lord Erskine, the
great barrister most brilliantly exposed
the aIsurdity and even lndecency of the
publication. and the bill was defeated.
Although the privilege was thus de-
stroyed the Stationers purchased their
rival and continued to hold the field with
but slightly improved style OF publica-
tiOns until lS2S when the Society for the
Diffusion Of Useful knowledge published
the British Almanac" and demolished
their predecessors. with the able assist
ance OF the daily press which so vigor-
ously assaIed the Stationers publlca-
tions that that company was constrained
to follow the new example in the Eng
lishmans Almanac"
One Penny Long the Price.
The uniform price for an English
almanac for many years was penny. but
the monopoly increased the price. and
the imposition Of the stamp taxes after
Queen Annc's time raised it still more.
In 17s1 "Moore's Almanac" was ninepense,
two being for the stamp; in 1886 It rose
to 1G pence. and In 1916 TO 2 shllings and
3 pence. Between 1921 and 1880 the duty
produced an average yearly revenue Of
E31010 TO the Government. but under
william ~ this duty, then OF Is pence
per stamp. WIS abolished In evasion Of
the stamp acts q shabby penny almanac
was produced iu England, and many are
still sold Tor that price.
Some American AImnnncs.
An almanac was established by Isaiah
Thomas in Worcester Mass. which gained
and established an extraordinary reputo
in 1850 from the happy accident that. as
il was being set up, one Of the boys
asked what should be placed against the
18th Of July NJ Thomas in careless
haste. answered: "AnythinEi anything"
The lad. literally obcdient set up Rain
hail. and snow" The diligeut readers
were surprised, but when the day came
the prediction was fulhiled-it really did
rain. hail. and snow on the 18Th Of that
July, and the fortune OF the almanac was
made.
The "Almanack de Gotha, now 13s
years old, is the bcst-knOwn OF the Ger
man publications Wbittakers is the
standard English publication OF the kind,
while in this country several Of the large
issue annual almanacs. The
stray production however, advertising
the all-potent patent medicine, with its
old astrological and magical symbols OF
the curious who are yersed in the history |
of almanacs.
First Come. First Served.
Hold up ring and let them jump for
It." The cynical phrase was tested by
popular American preacher as IS stated |