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Paul Revere Engravings in 1772 Boston Almanac

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American Revolution

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Three Paul Revere Engraved Prints in An Original Nathaniel Ames 1772 Almanac

1772, Booklet, "An Astronomical Diary or Almanack for the Year of Our Lord Christ 1772," with 3 Paul Revere Engravings, including a portrait of John Dickinson, the "Patriotic American Farmer," and a cut of "Mrs. Catharine McCaulay," compiled by Nathaniel Ames, Extremely Fine.
This original Boston almanac, published late in 1771, contains 24 printed pages, and includes 3 engravings by Paul Revere. The American Antiquarian Society says of this almanac: "One of two editions of Ames for 1772, the other printed for Ezekiel Russell. This edition is presumably that of Fleets, Edes, and Gill, although there is no printer's imprint. It is doubtlessly the pirated edition anticipated by Russell. Illustrations" John Dickinson, and Mrs. Catherine M'Caulay, both full page. They are copies or versions of the three cuts in Russell's editions of Ames, two of which were by Paul Revere. Evidently these versions are also by Revere, as an entry in his Day Book for December 21, 1771, records a charge against Edes and Gill, 'to engraving 3 plates for Ames' almanack.' The evidence suggests that Edes & Gill secured a copy of Russell's edition on the day it appeared, and ordered reproductions of the plates from Revere." Mrs. M'Caulay was a popular British historian, sympathetic to the rights of the Americans. The full-page metal cut of "The Patriotic American Farmer. J-N D-K-NS-N, Esq; Barrister at Law" contains the lines, "Who with attic eloquence, and Roman spirit, hath affected the Liberties of the British Colonies in America," and is followed by the poem, "Tis nobly done to stem taxation's rage, and raise the thoughts of a degenerate age, For Happiness and Joy, from Freedom spring; But Life in Bondage is a worthless Thing." This particular example of the almanac, measuring 6" x 4" (1/4" has been trimmed from the bottom), has 8 blank pages at the end which are filled with a handwritten account of expenses, including 3 entries for chocolate. Lightly toned with a light brown stain at the top of the front cover. The pages are still well bound together. A fine, early American Almanac graced with 3 Paul Revere Engravings.



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