Poor Richard's Almanac

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Poor Richard's Almanac

Publisher Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia, 1747

Printer Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia

Author Benjamin Franklin [Richard Saunders, pseud] (American, 1706-1790)

Place of OriginPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Date[1746]

DimensionsPage: 6 3/4 × 3 3/4 in. (171 × 95mm)

Mediumoriginal prints: woodcut vignettes text: letterpress paper: buff wove paper

ClassificationBooks

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number

1921.77

Not on View

Label TextBenjamin Franklin, one of the first printers in America, was by far the most renowned. At the age of twenty-five he commenced publishing an almanac embellished with witty and philosophical bits of writing over the pen-name of Richard Saunders. Poor Richard's Almanac is still one of the marvels of literature. Its contents have been translated into every tongue and have had more readers probably than any other publication except the Bible. It was the first American publication to be received favorably in Europe. Franklin's most famous and lucrative publication was the pamphlet series of POOR RICHARD'S ALMANACK, published annually from 1732 to 1757 in editions of more than 10,000 copies. From this widely read and useful volume (the worn condition of this copy attests to the frequent usage of the pamphlet), a reader could learn about the cycles of the moon and sun, eclipses, and various weather conditions.