Lot of Six Colonial Period, “POOR RICHARD IMPROVED ALMANACK” (1) by RICHARD SAUNDERS Printed and Sold by Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia, 1756-Dated (Printed 1755); Plus (5) Printed and Sold by Hall & Sellers dated: 1766, 1767, 1781, 1782 and 1785, Some Issues are Incomplete, ranging from Poor to Fine.
This Large Lot comprises Six Annual Editions of "Poor Richard Improved," the Almanac series originated by Benjamin Franklin under his "Richard Saunders" pseudonym, spanning the years 1756 to 1785 and printed in Philadelphia, some incomplete comprising the following:

1. Year of our Lord 1756 edition, printed and sold by B. Franklin and D. Hall, the only example in the lot carrying Franklin's own printing imprint, a partial incomplete issue during his active partnership with David Hall, collating pages 1-6 and 9-34, lacking the woodcut on page 5, extensive repairs and many replacement Xerox copy pages inserted, measuring 6.5 x 4 inches. The cover page is complete but has sealed splits, the best part if desired for display,

2. Year of our Lord 1766 edition, printed and sold by Hall and Sellers, per period bibliographic notation accompanying the item, issued the same year Franklin's printing partnership with David Hall came to a close, Not complete, lacking the front cover so the volume opens directly onto its interior calendar and weather-prediction pages, comprising 32 pages, measuring 7.25 x 4.25 inches.

3. Year of our Lord 1767 edition, printed and sold by D. Hall and W. Sellers, an incomplete issue comprising only pages 1-24 of the original run and thus lacking the concluding tables and remarks typical of the later pages in this series, the surviving leaves heavily foxed and spotted throughout, measuring 6.5 x 4 inches.

4. Year of our Lord 1781 edition, printed and sold by Hall & Sellers in 1780, the title leaf torn into several separated fragments with resulting losses to the text, extensive additional tearing and loss throughout the interior leaves affecting legibility in places, overall Poor condition, measuring 6.75 x 4.5 inches.

5. Year of our Lord 1782 edition, printed and sold by Hall and Sellers, complete at 36 pages, retaining its interior tables of interest, chronological observations, and entertaining remarks, with chipping and wear to the edges of the wrappers, measuring 6.75 x 4.25 inches.

6. Year of our Lord 1785 edition, printed and sold by Hall and Sellers, an incomplete issue comprising pages 1-28 of the original 32, lacking the last 4 pages, which in the run of this series typically carried supplementary tables, chronological observations, and entertaining remarks or advertisements following the monthly calendar pages, with edge wear and toning throughout the surviving leaves, measuring 6.75 x 4.25 inches.

Together, this lot traces the "Poor Richard Improved" Almanack across three decades of Philadelphia printing history, from Franklin's own imprint, through the Hall and Sellers successor printing house that carried the title forward after his retirement from the trade. Condition throughout the lot ranges from poor to fine, conservation is recommended. Individual examples showing varying degrees of completeness, wear, staining, and loss consistent with age and heavy period use typical of almanacs, which were made for a single year's daily reference rather than long preservation, the 1781 edition in particular showing many tears and the 1766 edition lacking its front cover. Lot Sold “AS IS” no returns. (6 items)