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20th Century to find old boxes filled with years and years
American folk singer Lee Hays once said of older editions. Even antique copies from
“Where I come from, a family had two the 18th century are not particularly rare
books. The Bible to help ‘em to the next and due to the high rag content in the paper
world. The Almanac, to help ‘em through used they have held up relatively well.
the present world.” By then, almanacs had There are some notable exceptions. A
firmly found their place in Americana. 1733 copy of Benjamin Franklin’s Poor
In the 1930s President Franklin Richard Almanac was discovered by the
Roosevelt used the Old Farmer’s Almanac historical society of Berwick, PA in 2009.
several times to convey motivational and Initially, experts estimated it was worth
upbeat messages to the American public. A $7,000-$10,000–but after the Library
decade later, in 1942, the publication’s Company of Philadelphia determined it was
record of continuous publication almost one of only three known copies of the 1733
took a hit when a German spy was appre- edition to exist–it ultimately sold to an
hended in New York with a copy of that anonymous bidder for $556,500. At the
year’s Old Farmer’s Almanac in his pocket. time, it was the second-highest price ever
Concerned that the almanac was providing paid for a book printed in the United States.
information to the enemy its editor had to Note to the reader from Poor Richard’s Almanack, 1733. Large collections with rare early copies
convince the FBI that it was not violating can fetch high prices but the vast majority of
the “Code of Wartime Practices for the copies are not worth more than $10-$15.
American Press.” The story has become But that doesn’t mean they aren’t a fun and
part of farmer’s almanac folklore. interesting item to collect!
Throughout the 20th century, almanacs
remained popular, and their readers were Museum Collections
nothing if not devoted. In Robb One of the largest almanac collections is
Sagendorph’s book America and her held by The American Antiquarian Society
Almanacs: Wit, Wisdom & Weather 1639- in Worcester, Massachusetts. The collection
1970 he informs the reader that almanacs, contains over 15,000 almanacs printed from
once published, seldom changed their 1656 through 1876 and the Society is still
format. “… once an editor had introduced actively acquiring missing titles and issues.
himself and his almanac to the public he It is the most comprehensive collection in
pretty much had to stay with the contents existence and includes about three-quarters
and arrangements of his first edition.” He of all the almanacs published in North
shared the following letter from a farmer Rare 1896 Montgomery Ward & Company’s American America during the 220-year period.
after a minor change to the heading of the Farmers’ Almanac selling on eBay for $169.95 The New York State Library contains a
moon column on the calendar page of the large collection of almanacs as well. It
Old Farmer’s Almanac. includes over 10,000 almanacs from 1684 to the present. In addition to
some of the more common farmer’s almanacs like Poor Richard’s
Dear Sir: Almanac and the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the collection includes specialty
I have read The Old Farmer’s Almanac for the last seventy-five years and niche almanacs such as Almanac of the American Temperance
and I wish the damned fool that changed the heading of the Moon’s place Union, Anti-Slavery Almanac, Boys’ Almanac Containing Fun and
column had died before he done it. Entertainment for Young and Old, Farmer’s and Farrier’s Almanac, Davy
Yours respectfully, F.C. Crawford Crockett’s Almanack, Illustrated Phrenological Almanac, and the intriguing
Tragic Almanac.
Strange But (Probably) True
Over the years, almanacs have dispensed quite a lot of advice to their Today
readers. While it may or may not all be 100% correct, it is at least Farmer’s almanacs have stood the test of time and are still popular
generally plausible, with the implication that someone, somewhere today. In a time when very few people farm their own food, the
along the way, believed it to be true. For example: nostalgia of the almanacs and their wit and wisdom have kept them in
readers’ hands.
• For arthritis: Pack a small jar with golden raisins and cover them with The Farmers’ Almanac website provides an explanation for their
gin. Eat nine raisins every morning, squeezing the extra gin back in continued popularity. “The reason is simple; smart living never goes
the jar. out of style.” Today’s readers may not be farming to survive, but they
• To prevent a cold: Boil a whole onion, and afterward, drink the water. care about the environment and conservation. The Farmers’ Almanac,
• For brittle nails: Eat Jell-O. does and always has, provided them with
• To avoid dying: Absolutely no haircuts hacks and sustainability to help them live a
in March, don’t sing in bed, don’t cook greener life and stay connected to the natu-
your own birthday dinner, never serve 13 ral world around them. Something that
at a table, don’t walk backward, never today’s smartphones don’t always deliver.
count the cars on a passenger train, don’t And to keep up with the times, both the
let two people comb your hair at once, Old Farmer’s Almanac and the Farmers’
and don’t walk around in one shoe. Almanac have embraced the digital age.
With robust websites and strong social
Collectible Editions media followings, the two longest-running
While most older editions of farmer’s American farmer’s almanacs are still enter-
almanacs are not particularly valuable. This taining and delighting new audiences today.
is especially true of the prolific Farmer’s
Almanac and Old Farmer’s Almanac which
have been in print in the United States for Title image: These 14 various almanacs with wear
over two hundred years and could be found and tear throughout recently sold at auction for $20.
in just about any rural home. It is common The American Anti-Slavery Almanac, 1837. Photo:lofty.com

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