Almanacs

The first published in this country appeared at Cambridge, Ma ., in 1639. It was compiled by William Pierce, mariner, and printed by Stephen Daye, and was called 4a Almanac, Calculated for New England. It was the first book printed in the colonies. The first Boston almanac was published by John Foster in 1676. In Philadelphia the first appeared in 1686, edited by Daniel Leeds, and printed by William Bradford. In 1697, J. Clapp published an almanac in New York. Beginning with 1700, Samuel Clough published the New England Almanac at Boston for eight years. It bore the traditional woodcut, profe ing to show what parts of a man’s body are governed by the moon, etc.; it foretold the weather, eclipses of the year, etc. Nathaniel Ames’ Astronomical Diary and Almanac started at Boston in 1725, and continued half a century, with a circulation of 60,000.