The New England Almanac, 1888

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The 1888 <i>New England Almanac and Farmer’s Friend</i> was published Charles Allyn of New London, Connecticut in 1887. The almanac shared valuable information during a time when newspapers were scarce. Their popularity with the public and low overhead made them attractive for publishers as well. While almanacs may be known for their farmer’s calendar or weather forecasts, they also served as calendars that marked holidays and all-saints days, and notable historic dates. The calendar also tracked the transit of celestial bodies and included the related astrological guidance. Additional materials included literary extracts, poetry, a list of roads and their mileage to major cities, medical advice, cooking recipes, patent notices, rates of interest, short histories, political discussions, schedules of courts, and practical advice. The diversity of topics made the almanac useful for every strata of society, creating an early form of mainstream culture.