Title: AN ALMANACK FOR The Year of our Lord God, ...
Publisher: London:Printed by Mary Clark, for the Company of Stationers.
Publication Date: 1679
Binding: Hardcover
Book Condition: Very Good
24, unnumbered blank pages (interesting contemporary hand written account entries, some dated ); [Printed pages of calendar are interspersed with blanks] pages [1]-[48]: alternates between 2 printed (Title-page and calendar printed in red & black) & 2 blank pages (title within double-lined border). Further 28 unnumbered blank pages (page 7/8 at rear, is torn with small loss; many more contemporary hand written pages). Possibly some blank pages may be missing but definite evidence of any such fault. 2 letterpress woodcut text vignette illustrations. Pages are age-toned, stained & thumbed, & some corners creased. An unidentified dried pressed (hairy) leaf inside almanac. 10.75 x 6 cm. Original titled & dated sheepskin binding, complete with folding flap (to keep it closed & protected). Wonderfully tactile wrinkles & patination from 342 years of gentle handling and pockets. Age related wear includes rubbed and slightly worn corners, cracking along flap & hinges; fading from original olive-green colour still seen inside front & back covers. Wear to front & rear paste-down endpapers. Printed contents: Monthly calendar (opposite January is written, Hear God and honour the King ). Includes times of high water at London Bridge, the weather ( white hoary frost ), phases of the moon, election written by hand on 21st February 1679 [In 1679 Robert Peyton was elected Knight of the Shire of Middlesex with Sir William Roberts as the 2nd member of parliament], equinoxes, saints days, Ember week on 13th March, fairs, quarter days, days of Christian religious celebration, birthday of royalty ( K.Char.ii.N [ N ee/ born] 30th May, astrological signs, term dates. Plain table shewing beginning & end of the Reign of all Kings & Queens of England since Conquest, to this present year, 1679 . Dominion of Moon in Mans Body, under the 12. Zodiacal Constellations . Twelve Signs of Zodiack . Compendious Chronology . Plain Table, shewing interest of money from five shillings to 100 pounds for a year or under, after rate of 6 per Cent . Use of foregoing Tables for Purchase of Leases, &c . Catalogue of the most Reverend, Right Reverend, & reverend Archbishops, Bishops & Deans of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in England . Names of several Learned Judges of Law, in his Majesties four Grand Courts of Record . A Table of Terms . Geographical Description of Wales". Names of principal Fairs in England & Wales . Brief Notes for Computation of Expences . To know time of day by your hand . Contemporary ink hand written entries include: "James Tillyer July 9th 1679. Iron works for a cart and wheels weighed 4 bushell a half and ten pounds . cow leases 1765. Lord Uxbridge 4 bullocks.Child 1 bulluck leeses.at Harmondsworth. Parsonage £134. Doust lodge £66, 13s & 4p. . Lord Pagett £146 [Henry Paget, 1st Earl of Uxbridge (1663 -1743), of Beaudesert, Staffordshire, and West Drayton, Middlesex, was a British landowner and Tory MP from 1695- 1712 when he was raised to the peerage as Baron Burton as one of Harley's Dozen. He was a Hanoverian Tory, supportive of the Hanoverian Succession] . The Lord s lands at Drayton: .Church Hoas £7. Stable House £20. Great Brickhill £19. . Little Brickhill £6. Great Benty £14 .£189 [total] . Take half a pound of ffiggs and slice them, half a pound of Rasons of the Sunn & stone them. Six.of oates. Heate an ounce of Lirkowish and half an ounce of Anniseed & boyle all these in three quarts of the strongest ale till it comes to two quarts and take and drink of it half a pint mornings & evenings . " For the Minister of the Parish of Westbury in the County of Middx. And the Church Wardens & Overseers . of said Parish, I hereby.". George Batt His book December 31 1794 . Goldsmith published his almanac from 1661 [printed R.White] until early 19th century. Most editions uncommon; of 1679 issue WorldCat lists only 3 copies worldwide, 1 in UK. Rare contemporary insights into Stuart rural economy.