The Tucson citizen., 1902-11-10
ALMANAC VAGARIES.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION lN
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

ACAA6 Ane &AAA0AAC NAxtASK&
Yearly Almanacs the Rage Since
the sixteenth Century.
One of the most curious collections
ut the library of congress is that OF
Hlmanacs. 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 contended by many author
| tiles that the almanac of 14o7 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 (retained 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, a famous German
mathematician, under the patronage of
Matthias Corvinus, king Of Hungary,
published a series of almanacS from
1475 to 1906, and yearly almanacs be-
came an established custom in the six
teenth century. 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-
viluals in the state.
The first almanac in the modern
Ahape appeared in England in 1873. II
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 Royal' of Paris. 1897, con-
tanned notices of pastimes, court recep-
tion days. fairs and markets, to which
were added soon afterward the gen
ealogy of the reigning house, etc.
In England James I. granted a mo-
nopoly of the trade to the universities
and the Statfoners' 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 'Moore'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
Poor Richard
Popular superstititions and the ex-
travagances Of astrology found room
in these almanacs. the Stationers, like
q genuine corporation Of trust Of
the time, having no personality of
their own, and exhibiting no special
bias except for what would sell. as
was particularly proved in 1924, when
they issued set Of predictions In one
almanac and bitterly contradicted
them In another.
The famous "Moore's Almanac" pur.
ported to be edited by Francis Moore.
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1874. but the publication was
still isued as ii under his supervision,
and In 1175 vigorous rival arose in
another almanac claiming to be the
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 LorN North
in 1910, but Lord Erskine. thu 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 theif
rival and continued to hold the field
with but slightly improved style of
publication until 1928. when the Soci
ETY. For the Diffusion Of Useful Knowl-
edge published the British Almanac"
AAO 0S4nOklSACO 61CA III ACOCNCSNOiS
with the able assistance of the daily
press, which so vigorously assailed the
Stationers' publication that that COM
pany was constrained to follow the
new example in the "Englishman's Al
manac."
The uniform price for an English al
manac for many years was penny,
but the monopoly increased the price,
and the imposition of the stamp taxes
after Queen Anne's time raised it still
more. In 1871 'NIoores Almanac" was
ninepepce. two being for the stamp.
In 1895 it rose to Is. 4d. and in 1916 to
Is. Sd
An almanac was established by
Isaiah Thomas in Worcester, Mass.
which gained and established an ex-
traurdinary repute in 1880 from the
happy accident that. as 1t was being set
up, one of the boys asked what should
be placed against the 18th Gf July.
Mr.. Thomas. in careless haste, an
swered: Anything! Anything" The