Almanacs: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 09:29, 11 April 2019

Early almanacs were permanent tables of the apparent motions of the sun and moon, from which astronomical data for any year could be calculated. In the 15th century, almanacs began to be prepared for definite periods, such as 10 or 30 years, and in the 16th century, for a single year. From this period astrological and meteorological predictions were also included, alongside other information. (OED) Later almanacs came to include lists of interesting facts, and other miscellaneous information for edification and amusement.

The Folger's Collection development policy targets acquisition of 16th- and 17th-century English almanacs from the handpress era, and acquisition of Shakespeare-related almanacs from the modern era.

Cataloging almanacs

Fixed fields

Nature of contents (Cont): 5, for "calendars"

Title

In general, consider the clause following a short title of author's last name and year as part of the title proper (for both early modern and modern almanacs).

245 10 ǂa Perkins, 1643. A new almanacke and prognostication, for the yeere of our Lord God, 1643 : ǂb being the third from the bissextile or leape-yeere, and from the worlds creation, 5606 : composed and chiefly referred to the meridian of the famous city of London / ǂc made and set forth by Samuel Perkins, well-willer to the mathematicks.
246 30 ǂa New almanacke, and prognostication, for the yeere of our Lord God, 1643

Meridien

Always transcribe information about the meridien of calculation in the 245
Do not use MARC 751 for the meridien of calculation or other associated place names

Date of publication

Almanacs were typically published in the summer or autumn preceding their year of calculation. Put the corrected [actual] imprint date in the fixed field, and add field 046 for the date as it appears on the piece.

008/06 s
008/07-14 1676bbbb
046  x ǂc 1677
260 London : ǂb Printed by J.D. for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1677 [i.e. 1676]
500 Almanacs were published the year preceding the date of calculation.

Modern almanacs often do not include an imprint date at all, but will include a date as part of the title or elsewhere. Assume that the publication date is the preceding year, and include it in the publication statement in square brackets (following RDA 2.2.4, Other sources of information).

245 04 The Shakespeare almanac for 1894.
264 01 ... ǂc [1893]

Physical description

Record an image of a Zodiac man as an illustration.

Make a note about the presence or absence of red printing. Most early English almanacs have at least the first gathering printed in red and black. An otherwise standard almanac printed only in black is therefore also an important fact.

500  Gathering A printed in red and black.

500  Printed entirely in black.

Dead authors

Early English almanacs were typically attributed to a single author, sometimes whose attribution sometimes continued after the author's death. If the almanac attributes its contents to an author known to be dead, record the author's name as an added entry with ǂe dubious author (from the MARC relator list), with a note about the name's origin.

245 00 Pond 1633. A new almanack for the yeare of our Lord Christ MDCXXXIII : ǂb being the first after the leap-yeare, and since the creation of the world 5634 : again amplified with many things of very good use, both for pleasure and profit, not heretofore published / ǂc exactly rectified according to art by Edvvard Pond.
246 30 New almanack for the yeare of our Lord Christ MDCXXXIII
500    A continuation of the almanac started by Edward Pond, -1629.
700 1  Pond, Edward, ǂd -1629, ǂe dubious author.

If the almanac's title uses the original name but does not attribute the content to the dead author, make a note about the continuation, but do not make an added entry for the author.

245 00 Pond. An almanack for the year of our Lord God 1692 : ǂb being the bissextile or leap-year, and from the worlds creation at the spring 5695 years compleat : amplified with many good things both for pleasure and profit, and fitted for the meridian of Saffron Walden in Essex, where the pole is elevated 52 degrees and 6 minutes above the horizon : and may serve indifferently for any other place of this kingdom.
246 30 Almanack for the year of our Lord God 1692
500    A continuation of the almanac started by Edward Pond, -1629.

Form terms

655 7 Almanacs. ǂ2 aat
655 7 Ephemerides. ǂ2 aat
655 7 Pamphlets. ǂ2 aat
655 7 Tables (documents) ǂ2 aat [when there are substantial tables in addition to the calendar]

Subject headings

For the calculation and prediction of natural phenomena and meteorological events (such as the times of tides, comets, and eclipses) on the basis of astronomical observations.

 650 0 Astronomy ǂv Early works to 1800.

For reference to the aspects, positions and influences of celestial bodies, such as that found in the calendar section and pictures of the zodiac man; also to predictions of storms, earthquakes, &c.

 650 0 Astrology ǂv Early works to 1800.

For predictions concerned with nations, political parties, and global events based on the influence of the stars: called judicial astrology or mundane astrology.

650 0 Mundane astrology ǂv Early works to 1800.

Booktrade name added entries

Use relationship designator ǂe publisher for the Company of Stationers.

260  [London] : ǂb Printed by W. Onely, for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1698 [i.e. 1697]
7001 Onley, William, ǂd active 1697-1709, ǂe printer.
7102 Stationers' Company (London, England), ǂe publisher.

Some printers appearing as initials only have been positively identified or surmised.

A.M. = Anne Maxwell, active 1665-1675

F.K. = Felix Kingston

J.C. = James Cottrel, active 1649-1670

J.D. = John Darby

J.F. = James Flesher

J.G. = James Grover (1678-1681)

J.L. = John Legate (

J.L. = John Leake (

J.R. = James Roberts (1700-1701)

Indicate level of certainty in the wording of the note, and add an access point for the printer.

260  London : ǂb Printed by J.G. for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1682 [i.e., 1681]
500 "J.G." is probably James Grover, who printed other almanacs. 
7001 Grover, James, ǂd -1700, ǂe printer.

External links

Tis the season for almanacs (The Collation blog post)
Bosanquet, E.F. English printed almanacks and prognostications : a bibliographical history to the year 1600
Capp, B. S. English almanacs, 1500-1800
Capp, B.S. Astrology and the popular press
Smyth, Adam. Autobiography in early modern England. (Has a chapter on almanacs as an instance of life-writing)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Definition==
+Early almanacs were permanent tables of the apparent motions of the sun and moon, from which astronomical data for any year could be calculated. In the 15th century, almanacs began to be prepared for definite periods, such as 10 or 30 years, and in the 16th century, for a single year. From this period astrological and meteorological predictions were also included, alongside other information. (OED) Later almanacs came to include lists of interesting facts, and other miscellaneous information for edification and amusement.
-Early almanacs were permanent tables of the apparent motions of the sun and moon, from which astronomical data for any year could be calculated. In the 15th century, almanacs began to be prepared for definite periods, such as 10 or 30 years, and in the 16th century, for a single year. From this period astrological and meteorological predictions were also included, alongside other information. (OED)
-==Fixed fields==
+The Folger's [[Collection development policy]] targets [[Early modern English collection development | acquisition of 16th- and 17th-century English almanacs]] from the handpress era, and [[Shakespeare collection development |acquisition of Shakespeare-related almanacs]] from the modern era.
+==Cataloging almanacs==
+===Fixed fields===
 Nature of contents ('''Cont'''):  <code>5</code>, for "calendars"
-==Title==
-In general, consider the clause following a short title of author's last name and year as part of the title proper.
+===Title===
-10 ǂa Perkins, 1643. A new almanacke, and prognostication, for the yeere of our Lord God, 1643 : ǂb being the third from the bissextile or leape-yeere, and from the worlds creation, 5606 : composed and chiefly referred to the meridian of the famous city of London / |c made and set forth by Samuel Perkins, well-willer to the mathematicks.
+In general, consider the clause following a short title of author's last name and year as part of the title proper (for both early modern and modern almanacs).
+10 ǂa Perkins, 1643. A new almanacke and prognostication, for the yeere of our Lord God, 1643 : ǂb being the third from the bissextile or leape-yeere, and from the worlds creation, 5606 : composed and chiefly referred to the meridian of the famous city of London / ǂc made and set forth by Samuel Perkins, well-willer to the mathematicks.
 30 ǂa New almanacke, and prognostication, for the yeere of our Lord God, 1643
-==Publisher==
+===Meridien===
-Use relationship designator <code> ǂe publisher </code> for the Company of Stationers.
+*Always transcribe information about the meridien of calculation in the 245
-  [London] : ǂb Printed by W. Onely, for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1698 [i.e. 1697]
+*Do not use [[MARC 751 Added Entry - Geographic Name | MARC 751]] for the meridien of calculation or other associated place names
-Onley, William,  ǂd active 1697-1709,  ǂe printer.
-Stationers' Company (London, England), ǂe publisher.
+===Date of publication===
+Almanacs were typically published in the summer or autumn preceding their year of calculation. Put the corrected [actual] imprint date in the fixed field, and add field 046 for the date as it appears on the piece.
-==Date of publication==
-Almanacs were typically published in the autumn preceding their year of calculation. Assume this is the case unless there is proof that an almanac was not published until the year of calculation, and adjust the imprint date.
 /06 s
 /07-14 1676bbbb
@@ Line 24: / Line 27: @@
 Almanacs were published the year preceding the date of calculation.
 Modern almanacs often do not include an imprint date at all, but will include a date as part of the title or elsewhere. Assume that the publication date is the preceding year, and include it in the publication statement in square brackets (following RDA 2.2.4, Other sources of information).
 04 The Shakespeare almanac for 1894.
 01 ... ǂc [1893]
-==Physical description==
-Record an image of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_Man Zodiac man or woman] as an illustration.
+===Physical description===
+Record an image of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zodiac_Man Zodiac man] as an illustration.
 Make a note about the presence or absence of red printing. Most early  English almanacs have at least the first gathering printed in red and black. An otherwise standard almanac printed only in black is therefore also an important fact.
   Gathering A printed in red and black.
-Printed entirely in black.
-==Form terms==
+  Printed entirely in black.
+===Dead authors===
+Early English almanacs were typically attributed to a single author, sometimes whose attribution sometimes continued after the author's death. If the almanac attributes its contents to an author known to be dead, record the author's name as an added entry with ǂe dubious author (from the MARC relator list), with a note about the name's origin.
+00 Pond 1633. A new almanack for the yeare of our Lord Christ MDCXXXIII : ǂb being the first after the leap-yeare, and since the creation of the world 5634 : again amplified with many things of very good use, both for pleasure and profit, not heretofore published / ǂc exactly rectified according to art by Edvvard Pond.
+30 New almanack for the yeare of our Lord Christ MDCXXXIII
+    A continuation of the almanac started by Edward Pond, -1629.
+1  Pond, Edward, ǂd -1629, ǂe dubious author.
+If the almanac's title uses the original name but does not attribute the content to the dead author, make a note about the continuation, but do not make an added entry for the author.
+00 Pond. An almanack for the year of our Lord God 1692 : ǂb being the bissextile or leap-year, and from the worlds creation at the spring 5695 years compleat : amplified with many good things both for pleasure and profit, and fitted for the meridian of Saffron Walden in Essex, where the pole is elevated 52 degrees and 6 minutes above the horizon : and may serve indifferently for any other place of this kingdom.
+30 Almanack for the year of our Lord God 1692
+    A continuation of the almanac started by Edward Pond, -1629.
+===Form terms===
 7 Almanacs. ǂ2 aat
 7 Ephemerides. ǂ2 aat
 7 Pamphlets. ǂ2 aat
+7 Tables (documents) ǂ2 aat [when there are substantial tables in addition to the calendar]
+===Subject headings===
+For the calculation and prediction of natural phenomena and meteorological events (such as the times of tides, comets, and eclipses) on the basis of astronomical observations.
+0 Astronomy ǂv Early works to 1800.
+For reference to the aspects, positions and influences of celestial bodies, such as that found in the calendar section and pictures of the zodiac man; also to predictions of storms, earthquakes, &c.
+0 Astrology ǂv Early works to 1800.
+For predictions concerned with nations, political parties, and global events based on the influence of the stars: called judicial astrology or mundane astrology.
+0 Mundane astrology ǂv Early works to 1800.
-==Subject headings==
+===Booktrade name added entries===
-*None, in general.
-*Almanacs with sections containing "Astrological judgments" or similar wording, use subject heading:
+Use relationship designator <code> ǂe publisher </code> for the Company of Stationers.
-:<code> 650 0 Mundane astrology ǂv Early works to 1800. </code>
+  [London] : ǂb Printed by W. Onely, for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1698 [i.e. 1697]
+Onley, William, ǂd active 1697-1709, ǂe printer.
+Stationers' Company (London, England), ǂe publisher.
-==Meridien==
+Some printers appearing as initials only have been positively identified or surmised.
-*Transcribe--do not elide--information about the meridien of calculation in the 245
+:'''A.M.''' = Anne Maxwell, active 1665-1675
-*Do not use [[MARC 751 Added Entry - Geographic Name| MARC field 751]] for the meridien of calculation or other associated place names
+:'''F.K.''' = Felix Kingston
+:'''J.C.''' = James Cottrel, active 1649-1670
+:'''J.D.''' = John Darby
+:'''J.F.''' = James Flesher
+:'''J.G.''' = James Grover (1678-1681)
+:'''J.L.''' = John Legate (
+:'''J.L.''' = John Leake (
+:'''J.R.''' = James Roberts (1700-1701)
-==Example==
- Perkins 1633. A new almanacke and prognostication for the yeere of our Lord God, 1633 : being the first after the bissextile, or leape yeere, and from the worlds creation 5595 : composed, and chiefly referred to the meridian of the famous city of London / made and set forth by Samuel Perkins, well-willer to the mathematickes, gent.  London : Printed for the Company of Stationers, [1632]. [http://shakespeare.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=125254 Call number STC 495.8 Bd.w. STC 419.2
+Indicate level of certainty in the wording of the note, and add an access point for the printer.
+London : ǂb Printed by J.G. for the Company of Stationers, ǂc 1682 [i.e., 1681]
+"J.G." is probably James Grover, who printed other almanacs.
+Grover, James, ǂd -1700, ǂe printer.
 ==External links==
@@ Line 58: / Line 101: @@
 *[http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=85625 Capp, B. S.  English almanacs, 1500-1800]
 *[http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=99180 Capp, B.S. Astrology and the popular press]
-*[http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=235585 Smyth, Adam.  Autobiography in early modern England.  (Has a chapter on almanacs as an instance of life-writing]
+*[http://hamnet.folger.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=235585 Smyth, Adam.  Autobiography in early modern England. ] (Has a chapter on almanacs as an instance of life-writing)
 [[Category: Cataloging]]