The New-England almanack, or Lady's and gentleman's diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1782 ... By Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq; philom.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

West, Benjamin, 1730-1813

Daboll, Nathan, 1750-1818

Language:

English

Physical Description:

[24]p. ; 12°.

Place of Publication:

Providence : Printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, at the Post-Office, at Shakespear's Head, near the State-House. (Great allowance made to those who purchase quantities.), [1781]

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 similarities in the eclipse predictions and the astronomical and horological notes on the calendar pages between the present issue and The New England almanack and gentleman's and lady's diary for 1782 (New London), calculated by Daboll under the pseudonym of Edmund Freebetter, indicate a common authorship. Most of the calculations vary to a degree reflecting the difference in the 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. 27, 1781.

Parentheses substituted for square brackets in imprint transcription.

Bookseller's advertisement, p. [24].

Local Notes:

HSP in LCP.

Cited in:

Evans 17431; Alden, J.E., Rhode Island, 849; Drake, M. Almanacs, 12865