Merlinus Anglicus junior, or, the starry messenger for the first after [sic] year of human redemption, 1713. ... By Henry Coley ...
1713
Items
Details
Title
Merlinus Anglicus junior, or, the starry messenger for the first after [sic] year of human redemption, 1713. ... By Henry Coley ...
Created/published
London : Printed by E. Everingham, for the Company of Stationers, 1713.
Description
48 unnumbered pages ; (8vo)
Associated name
Coley, Henry, 1633-1704, author.
Note
This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.
Cited/described in
English short title catalogue (ESTC), T016948
Genre/form
Almanacs.
Item Details
Call number
FAST ACC 271770 (quarto)
Folger-specific note
From dealer's description: "Almanacs were traditionally printed and sold in the months of October, November, and December preceding the salient year, and it was customary for the Stationers' Company to bind up selections of unsold copies, tool the covers with the cipher of the reigning monarch, and sell them as yearbooks in January, February, and March. The present volume contains ten almanacs, including the seminal Ladies Diary, the quasi-parodic Poor Robin, and the uncommon Vox Stellarum, of which the present is the second known copy. Each almanac is stamped at lower fore-margin of title with a crimson tax stamp demoninated at two pence. A number of the almanacs are illustrated with anthropomorphized eclipses, moon phases, and the obligatory Homo sigorum, or Zodiac man, and Vox Stellarum is illustrated with a highly curious “Hieroglyphick” riddle in two parts. The prime directive of the early English almanac was astronomical: it was a vade mecum to the stars and planets and how to interpret them as both stellar objects and as astrological heralds. As such most almanacs contain significant information on eclipses, comets, and phases of the moon, along with the worldwide sublunary effects of it all, from medical to climatic to sociopolitical. A very good copy of an uncommon Sammelband of English almanacs, bound in contemporary maroon morocco tooled with a derivative of Queen Anne's cipher. The binding was likely produced in the workshop of Jane Steel, possibly by Jane herself. Her husband, Robert Steel, a former apprentice to Samuel Mearne, died around 1711, leaving the shop to his widow. Octavo, 160 x 110 x 37 mm (binding), 156 x 107 x 32 mm (text block). Contemporary binding of maroon morocco tooled on corners of boards and in spine compartments with a derivative of the cipher of Queen Anne (crowned and flanked by palms, suggesting the volume was assembled and bound for use in a Chapel Royal), board edges tooled in gilt with a floral roll, AEG, nonpareil marbled ends. Wear to extremities, spine with vertical creases, edge-gilding worn, small chip to tail cap, a portion of upper pastedown torn away, about half of last free white end torn away. Interior: Several gatherings browned (some significantly); a few edges trimmed by the binder’s plough, occasionally touching text; three leaves in seventh almanac (Ephemeris) torn in gutter, text not affected; a number of deckle edges in evidence. Provenance: Contemporary manuscript custodial mark to verso of first free endpaper: JB 460; to verso of last front free end 19th-century penciled notes tallying hours for an unknown task; volume acquired by present from Winchester Antiquarian Books, UK, May 2019." Ordered from WS Cotter Rare Books & Restoration, D9327, 2019-07-24, email quote. Purchase made possible by The Elizabeth A. Walsh Acquisitions Fund.
Folger accession
271770