The Tucson citizen., 1902-09-19
ALMANAC VAGARIES.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION IN
THE. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

Being the First Almanac Makers.
Yearly Almanocs the Rage Since
the Sixteenth Century.
One Of the most curious collections
1t the library of congress is that Of
almanacs. These publications, which
as advertising mediums are left at the
door often to be at once thrown care
lessly into the wastebasket, have a
striking and venerable history.
1t is still conte2ded by many author
tiles that the almanac of 1851 was the
first specimen Of printing, and it has
been variously credited to Gutenberg,
Echaeffer and Ptister Of Bamberg. Dr..
Faustus, celebrated in legend, whose
strange story has been immortalized
by Marlowe and Goethe, was the ac-
credited author of almanacs containing
astrological signs Uetained at the pres
ent day) and necromantic secrets.
Poor Richards Almanac" the pro
duction 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 almanac as a vehicle for
his talents.
ReyiOmOntanus, famous German
mathematician under the patronage Of
Matthias Coryinus, king of Hungary
published a series of almanacs from
1473 to 1906, and yearly almanacs be-
came an established custom in the six
teenth centrRy Henry III. of France
in 1879 enacted that the almanac
should not be made the instrument of
partisan politics by the introduction of
prophecies against parties and indi-
viduals in the state.
The first almanac in theL modern
shape appeared in England in 1913, 1t
was compiled by Maurice Wheeler,
canon of Christchurch, Oxford, and
was printed in that city. The sale was
so great that the booksellers of London
bought the copyright in order to mo-
nopolize it's subsequent sales. The
almanac RoyaP' of Paris, 1907, con-
tanned notices of pastimes, court recep-
ton days, fairs and markets, to which
were added soon afterward the gen
ealogy of the reigning house, etc.
In England James l. granted mo-
nopoly of the trade to the universities
and the Stationers' company, subject
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
the hands of the StatiOnerS. Under
their supervision were conducted the
popular almanacs known as "AIoore's"
and "Partridge's," the latter of which
was humorously attacked by Swift.
Poor Robins Almanac" published
from 1862 to 1923, may have furnished
a model, at least in title, for Franklin's s
Poor Richard.'
Popular superstititions and the ex-
travagances of astrology found room
in these almanacs, the Statjoners, like
IL genuine corporation or trust" of
the time, having no personality Of
their own, and exhibiting no special
bias except for what Nyould sell, as
was particularly proved iINl624, when
they issued a set of predictions in one
almanac and bitterly cOntradicted
them in another
The famous "Moores Almanac" pur-
ported to be edited by Francis Moore.
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1924, but the publication was
| still isued as if under his supervision,
and in 1775 a vigorous rival arose in
| al En lNn
genuine Francis Moore. A great law
suit followed, which was decided
against the monopoly of the Station
ers' company. "a bill to renew and
legalize the privilege was brought in
the house Of commons by Lord North
in 1779, but Lord Erskine. the great
barrister. most brilliantly exposed the
| absurdity and even indecency of the
| publication and the bill was defeated.
/ Although the privilege WAS thus de
stroyed, the Stationers purchased theft
! rival and continued to hold the fell
with but slightly improved style of
I publication until 1928 when the S0ci-
ETY. For the Diffusion OF Useful EN0Wl-
edge published the "B@itisA Almanac"
| and demolished their predecessors.
with the able assistance of the daily
press, which 50 vigorously assaiicd The
Stationers' publication that tnat CON
pany was constrained to follow the
new example in The "EngiishnlGa's ~
| manac."
The Uniform price for an Eu@l.sh at
manac for many years was 4 Iau s,
but the monopoly increased the prrr,
and the imposition of the stamp taAc~
after Queen Anne's time raised ii SAN
more. Inl->1 "Alo4re's Almanac" was
ninepence, two being for the stamp
In 1896 it rose to Is Al. and III 1916 tu
Is 3D.
An almanac was established by
Isaiah Thomas in Worcester. Mass.
which gained, and established an eX
traordinary repute in l1SD from tho
happy accident that, as it was being Sc;
up. one of the boys asked what should
be placed against the 18th Of July
Mr. Thomas. in careless haste, an
"a, In,