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The North American’s Almanack for the Year of Our Lord, 1777.

Worcester: Printed by Stearns and Bigelow, [1776]. 12mo, self wrappers. [24] pp., woodcut map on upper wrapper.

The second state of this almanac printed in Worcester during the Revolutionary War, of particular interest for the map of New York and vicinity that appears on the cover/title page.

Published some four months after the defeat of Washington’s forces in the Battle of Long Island and the subsequent occupation of New York by the British, the map depicts the region at the time of these events, showing a fleet of British ships under Admiral Richard Howe anchored in lower New York Bay. Both New York City and Newark are represented by clusters of buildings, and several forts are depicted as well. A key identifying various features appears in the upper left and is continued on page 4.

As noted by the AAS, two states are known: “In the first, the legend accompanying the map on the title page (of the defences of New York) has the reference 'See p. 3d.' In the second state this has been corrected to read: 'See p. 4th.' Moreover, the seasonal verses at heads of calendar pages in the earlier state have been replaced in the later state with verses from Hale's ‘The sum of religion.’ ”

REFERENCES: Evans 15096; Drake 3268.

CONDITION: Good, re-sewn.

Item #3154

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