Bookstore Cafe: Rare Books:
Rare Book Feature of the Week!
A Norman Rockwell illustration for Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard Almanack
This wonderful illustration of colonial Philadelphia is just one of Norman Rockell’s additions to Benjamin Franklin’s legendary Poor Richard Almanack. Franklin began publishing his almanack in 1732, and it was so wildly popular (eventually selling over 10,000 copies) that he put out new editions for 25 years. Even Napoleon Bonaparte was a fan, and had it translated into Italian (the French was already immensely popular). The Almanack contained many things – poems, meteorological and astronomical information among them – but is today most famous for Franklin’s proverbs and aphorisms, such as “He who lives upon hope will die fasting.”
This collectible volume, produced by the Limited Editions Club in 1964, weds Franklin’s earthy, homespun wisdom with the splendidly colorful and organized compositions of Norman Rockwell. 1,500 hundred editions were printed in folio size with leather spines and a protective slipcase. Ours is number 1,408 and it is SIGNED by Rockwell on the limitation page. It sells for $200.
For more information on this book and other rare and collectible books in Housing Works, don’t hesitate to email Sam at s.sacks@housingworks.org
