The British Almanack of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, for the Year of our Lord 1879, being the third after Bissextile [bound with] The Fifty-Second Year. Companion to the Almanack; or, Year-Book of General Information for 1879.

[QUEEN VICTORIA]

Published by The Company of Stationers, London, 1879

About this Item

8vo., bound by Harrison & Sons in full period roan, double ruled with elaborately decorative floral borders, fully gilt to spine in compartments and lettered direct to second and third; embossed in gilt with the cypher of Queen Victoria to the centre of both boards; all edges gilt and edges of boards similarly stamped; pale yellow endpapers; pp. [iii], 2-287, [iii]; an excellent, fresh and near-fine example, the edges of boards ever-so-slightly rubbed, particularly along the spine; some faint offsetting, spotting and marks to endleaves and prelims; and a couple of scratches to the gilt edges; otherwise clean.

A fabulous example of this late 19th century almanack, bound for Queen Victoria, Britain?s second longest reigning monarch. Printed towards the end of her 63-year reign, the almanack contains tables of sun rises and sun sets, tidal and moon charts, government, peerage, army, navy, and church figures lists, and a host of other information including London cab fares and museum opening times. The companion volume, which would have been bound contemporaneously, contains additional longer articles on world events such as the Paris Universal Exhibition, developments in Electrical lighting and the telephone, and scientific discoveries from the previous year, such as comet observations, arctic expeditions, and the artificial production of precious stones. As with all almanacks of this period, the information contained would have proved invaluable, especially to a Queen who was still in relative seclusion following her husband Albert?s death. 1879 was the year that the Queen turned 60, and became a grandmother. It was also a turbulent time for global politics, marked by both the Anglo-Zulu War and the Second Anglo-Afghan War.

Founded in 1790 by James Harrison, Harrison & Sons traces its history as far back as the 16th century, though by 1879 the firm had risen to prominence as one of foremost printers, publishers and book binders of the period, holding government and royal contracts as well as maintaining private presses at both the foreign and war offices.

A smart and well preserved binding for a British monarch, by one of the most prominent binders in Victorian Britain.

Seller Inventory # 641

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The British Almanack of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, for the Year of our Lord 1879, being the third after Bissextile [bound with] The Fifty-Second Year. Companion to the Almanack; or, Year-Book of General Information for 1879.
• Publisher: The Company of Stationers, London
• Publication Date: 1879
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Cambridge 2026