['Zadkiel' (Richard James Morrison, ' the most famous astrologer of Victorian times').] Ten-year run of ‘Zadkiel’s Almanac’, 1851 to 1860.

Morrison’s entry in the Oxford DNB describes him as ‘the most famous astrologer of Victorian times’. The present nonce-collection contains ten yearly issues of ‘Zadkiel’s Almanac’, in workmanlike black-cloth binding. Some of the outer leaves heavily discoloured, and the whole somewhat worn, otherwise in fair condition. All in 12mo, and with much the same lay-out of the title-page. Occasional illustrations. Title-pages state print-runs between ‘Twentieth Thousand’ (1851) and ‘Forty-second Thousand’ (1855 and 1856). The first two published by Hall & Co., 25 Paternoster Road: 1851, 68pp; 1852, 70pp. The next two by Piper Brothers & Co., 23 Paternoster Row: 1853, 72pp; 1854, 72pp. The next four by Piper, Stephenson, & Spence: all four (1855 to 1858), 72pp. The last two by George Berger, Holywell Street, Strand: 1859 and 1860 both 84pp. Issue for 1858 printed by J. Allen, 20 Warwick-lane, London. Issues for 1859 and 1860 printed by B. D. Cousins, Helmet Court, 338 Strand, London. The usual mish-mash of absurdity, of which the title-page of the first volume gives a good impression: ‘Twenty-first yearly edition. Zadkiel’s almanac for 1851; being the third after leap year, and the fiftieth of Her Majesty’s reign: Containing the rising and setting, &c. of the sun, moon, and planets; with numerous novel and necessary tables; predictions of the weather; voice of the stars, the eclipses, &c. a hieroglyphic; and most wonderful revelations from the world of spirits, which have been given through the magic crystal, in which numerous spirits of the dead have appeared! / Illustrated by Woodcuts of the appearances of spirits! By Zadkiel [crest] Tao Sze, &c.’ Predictions involve ‘The Nativity of Louis Napoleon, shewing his approaching Overthrow.’ (1853), ‘The Fate of Turkey and America; Fearful Wars in Europe, &c., &c.’ (1854), ‘PEACE AND PLENTY!’ (1855), ‘PEACE, PLENTY, & REFORM!’ (1856), ‘NATIONAL LOSS, AND HUMILIATION!’ (1857), ‘STRIFE - REFORM - AND PEACE!’ (1858), ‘PEACE - MERCY - REFORM!’ (1859) and ‘WAR! WAR! WAR!’ (1860). JISC reveals runs at the British Library, Oxford and elsewhere, but patchy holdings otherwise.