Benjamin Franklin | Poor Richard … for the Year 1754

Benjamin Franklin

Poor Richard improved: Being an Almanack and Ephemeris of the Motions of the Sun and Moon … For the Year of our Lord 1754 ... Fitted to the Latitude of forty degrees, and a Meridian of near five hours west from London; but may, without sensible error, serve all the Northern Colonies. Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by B. Franklin and D. Hall, [1753]

12mo (174 x 97 mm). Woodcut borders, anatomical man, and monthly panels; browned, scattered spotting and staining, a few closed primarily marginal tears, one or two creases. Stitched self-wrappers; verso of lower wrapper rubbed and stained, chips to edges. Housed in custom folding case.

In the preface, Franklin discusses the history of almanac makers (primarily, by his own admission, just to fill the page), followed by statistics on the population of New Jersey, a recipe for curing gammons, and astrological information.

REFERENCES

Miller 570; ESTC W22788; Evans 7003; Hildeburn 1325; Drake 9756

PROVENANCE

Rowland Ellis (signature to title and margin of later leaf)