[American Revolution] [Stamp Act] (Moore, Richard, pseudonym). (The New-York Pocket Almanack, For the Year 1766...)

(New-York: Printed and sold by and for H. Gaine, 1765). 24mo. 56 (of 60) pp., lacking A1 and A12 (provided in facsimile); interleaved with 24 blanks with contemporary manuscript, dated 1766-67, and later manuscript, dated 1888 notating previous ownership (John Lawrence of Long Island). Original stitched gatherings, starting; in later cloth wrappers, book-plate of Mrs E.W. Lawrence, Watertown, New York, on inner front wrapper, presumably her ownership inscription on rear inner wrapper. Evans 10077; Drake 5771; ESTC W32554

Advertised in the New York Mercury, Oct. 28, 1765, this scarce almanac includes one of the earliest American printings of the Stamp Act, with a 12-page "Abstract of the Stamp-Duty ACT which (it is said) will take Place the 1st of November 1765" appearing on B1-6. "Richard Moore" is a pseudonym, the actual calculator was John Nathan Hutchins.

The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first British Parliamentary attempt to impose a direct tax on the American colonies. It called for all legal documents, permits, pamphlets, newspapers and other publications to carry a tax stamp. Although the amount of the tax was relatively small, the Act raised the ire of the colonists who united in its opposition and raised the cry of "No taxation without representation." Intimidation and violence against the tax collectors made enforcement nearly impossible and the Act was repealed in March 1766. "The passage of the Stamp Act transformed American opposition to British policies...It was of enormous importance in that it produced at least a surface unity among the colonies, for almost every political leader, whatever his political principles, was opposed" (Jensen, The Founding of a Nation). 

Very rare. According to RBH, this is the first copy offered since 1924, and only the third overall. Only four examples are recorded, each also interleaved, at the American Antiquarian Society, Huntington Library, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and the New-York Historical Society.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.