Anderson Improved Almanack and Ephemeris for the Year of our Lord 1775...
Newport [RI]: Printed by Solomon Southwick. 1774. 6 3/4 x 4 1/4. Lacks one internal leaf. Title cut present though with two long horizontal tears. String-tied. Dog-eared; edges chipped. Item #3779
The title cut of this barely pre-Revolutionary War almanac is an elaborate woodcut of an astronomer seated behind a globe and looking through a telescope as two fanciful creatures fill the night sky. As if looking into the future, the caption of the image is "Time, ever pressing on, admits no Stay, but bears down Kings and Kingdoms in its Way."
In the author's address to the public in these "troublesome times", he disclaims "the gift of prophecy." Nevertheless, he offers advice on how to "remain the freest and happiest people under Heaven" -- including "stop all trade with Great Britain till the Parliament shall recognize your right to carry on trade upon an equal footing with the people of England, till they withdraw all their useless creatures and tools from this country, and till they leave the sole government of yourselves to yourselves." Another page summarizes Britain's exports to various parts of the world, "by which it appears that America takes off more of the British manufactures, &c. than all the other parts of the world."
At the head of each month's calendar page is a long verse on the history of astronomy, noting the contributions of Copernicus, Halley, Galileo, Newton and others.
References: Evans: 13115. Drake, Almanacs of the United States: 12841. O'Neal, Early American Almanacs: 127. Alden, Rhode Island Imprints 1727-1800: 529.
[ICN 3049.].
Price: $475.00