Miniature Book News, Number 3, March 1966 Page: 7
8 p. : ill. ; 22 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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132. Stationers' Company's Vest-Pocket
Almanac for 1829. 2 1/4", red mor.,
green inlay, flap, g.e. $42
133. Le Bijou Galant, Almanack. 3/4", 8 engravings.
mor., gilt. No date or place
(c.1825). $65.
134. Le Jou Jou Amusant. Almanach pour
L'Annee 1803. 1 1/8", red mor., Paris,
chez Marcilly. $65.
138. Schloss's English Bijou Almanac for
1839. 3/4", red mor. gilt, in slipcase
and in red morocco box. $73.
144. Petit Paroissien de la Jeunesse.
1 1/8", 96 pp., ivory covers. Paris,
Marcilly, n.d. $20.
148. The Tourists Conversational Guide,
by J. T. Loth. 1 1/16", red roan, gilt,
in green mor. box. Glasgow, D. Bryce,
n.d. $45.
149. The New Testament. 5/8", roan, g.e.
in square blue mor. box. D. Bryce &
Son, 1885. $36.
150. Dickens (C.) Christmas Books. 1 7/8",
illus., India Paper Ed., limp lea., in
red mor. box. 1904. $56.
163. Short History of the Bible. 1 3/16",
engravings, red lea., Darton and Harvey,
1807. $31.
HAZELTINE AND PISO
Almanacs have been consistent users of
miniature book format over the centuries and
in many lands. MBN will comment periodically
on the various groups and issues of such
almanacs and calendars.
An interesting American series is the
Hazeltine and Piso almanacs. These began
in 1879 and continued each year until at least
1917. Measuring 2 x 1 1/4" (with very little
year-to-year size variation), these items were
published by the E. T. Hazeltine Co., in
Warren, Pennsylvania, under the title: HAZELTINE'S
POCKET BOOK ALMANAC OF
1883, etc. About 1895 the title was changed
to: THE PISO POCKET BOOK ALMANAC.
The almanac itself consisted of a newly
designed colored paper wrapper almost every
year (see photo below). Inside was printed
information of eclipses, church days, and a
two page calendar for each month. Most have
between thirty and thirty-six pages.
Interspersed throughout are directions,
testimonials, and promotional material advertising
the patent medicine, Piso's cure,
which was the real reason for producing these
almanacs in the first place. One of the last
pages of the 1882 version has this to say:"WHOOPING COUGH is frequently cured--
almost in a day-- by PISO'S CURE FOR
CONSUMPTION.--
In other cases it does no apparent good.
We cannot explain the reason of this, we
simply state the fact.
It will cost you nothing to try for yourself."In later years these claims are toned
down a bit, but readers are urged to "take
Piso's cure for consumption, coughs, asthma,
bronchitis, sore throat, Ispasmodic croup,
and all Wasting diseases."
Many of these almanacs have the name
of a local druggist, where Piso's medicines
could be obtained, printed on the back wrapper.
We know these almanacs were widely
circulated because the 1917 issue states:
"39th series, 336th million."
A photo of five examples is shown below.Photo above shows five different Hazeltine and
Piso almanac covers. Bottom picture is back cover
for 1883. (Scale in inches).
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Edison, Julian I. Miniature Book News, Number 3, March 1966, periodical, March 1966; St. Louis, Missouri. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9460/m1/7/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.