The New-England almanack, or, Lady's and gentleman's diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1785 ... Calculated for the meridian of Providence ... By Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; philom.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

West, Benjamin, 1730-1813

Daboll, Nathan, 1750-1818

Language:

English

Physical Description:

[24]p. ; 8°.

Place of Publication:

Providence : Printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, at the Post-Office, at Shakespeare's Head, near the State-House, [1784]

Notes:

"Isaac Bickerstaff" is a common pseudonym in almanacs.

Erroneously attributed by Evans to Benjamin West. The actual calculator appears to be Nathan Daboll. The frequent identity or similarity of the astronomical and horological notes on the calendar pages with those in The New England almanack and gentlemen and ladies diary for 1785 (New London), calculated by Daboll under the pseudonym of Edmund Freebetter, indicates a common authorship. The calculations for the moon are identical. Most of the other calendar page calculations vary to a degree reflecting the difference in meridian between New London and Providence.

West and Carter, the publisher, severed relations with the 1781 issue. West's almanac was published thereafter at Providence by Bennett Wheeler as the North American calendar, while Carter continued the New England almanack over the Bickerstaff pseudonym with which West is often identified. Cf. Chapin, H.M. "Check list of Rhode Island almanacs, 1643-1850." Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s. v. 25 (1915): 24-26.

Advertised in the Providence gazette, Oct. 23, 1784.

Local Notes:

HSP in LCP.

Cited in:

Evans 18880; Alden, J.E. Rhode Island, 976; Drake, M. Almanacs, 12880