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1766 PAUL REVERE Eclipse Woodcut Engraving within Nath. Ames Boston Almanac

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:2,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,800.00 - 3,600.00 USD
1766 PAUL REVERE Eclipse Woodcut Engraving within Nath. Ames Boston Almanac
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Colonial America
Paul Revere’s 1766 “Eclipse” Woodcut Engraving Illustration in Nathaniel Ames’ Historic Boston Almanack
1766-Dated (Printed in 1765) Pre-Revolutionary War Stamp Act Era, Colonial Almanac, Second Edition published by Nathaniel Ames, Boston, Complete, containing Paul Revere’s Engraved Woodcut Illustration of an “Eclipse” located on page 17, Fine.
Original Imprint, titled: “AN ASTRONOMICAL DIARY OR ALMANACK FOR THE YEAR OF OUR LORD CHRIST 1766...Calculated for the Meridian of Boston, New England, ...: Printed and sold by the Printers and Booksellers.” (Printed in 1765 for the year 1766). It is complete, measures 4.5” x 7” with 24 pages, including a rare Paul Revere, Jr. Engraved Woodblock Print located on page 17. That engraving shows the positions of the Sun, Moon and Earth during an Eclipse. This second edition contains a very well printed example of that Paul Revere Eclipse Engraving, which also appeared in the first edition which was issued by a different printer. It is the earliest known Paul Revere Engraved Almanac Illustration. See Brigham, PAUL REVERE’S ENGRAVINGS, “Acc’t of American Almanacs,” page 198.

In this Almanac, Nathaniel Ames also writes in his introduction page of the “... present distressed circumstances, who would not groan, but almost sink beneath a load of debt; our merchants continually breaking; no money to be had, even for the most valuable articles; and all threatened with ruin,...” and of the people, Ames notes the growing concern of the population over British policies... “and “Stamp” with eternal infamy and disgrace, those who would oppress or tyrannize over us.” (contains references to the Stamp Act). The front cover page has some reinforcement paper along the inner spine and a couple of edge reinforcements. Some ancient, contemporary period notations on pages 3 and 17 at the left portion of the Eclipse, and torn at the top margin of pages 3 and 4 affecting some text. Overall, there is expected wear from use, yet is solid and above average for the period. Whole and complete, being fully intact, this an historically important rare Stamp Act period Colonial American Boston Almanac. See: Brigham 198; F Drake 3149; Evans 9897. R. 1849.
This second edition 1766 Almanac was published by Nathaniel Ames, son of Dr. Nathaniel Ames, who passed away having originally started the popular and highly regarded series of almanacs back in 1726. Here, Ames the son continued writing the almanac after his father died in 1764, and continued until the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He was a successful doctor, ardent Anti-Federalist and a local Boston politician.