Le Calendrier de la Cour, tiré des Ephémerides ... Pour l’annee Mil sept cent trente-neuf. Imprimé pour la Famille Royale, et Maison de Sa Majesté

Paris: Jacques Collombat, 1739. 36mo (binding size 108 x 55 mm). [72] pp. (a single quire of 36 leaves, the first and last leaves mounted on the free endpapers and printed on visible sides only). Woodcut royal arms on title, 2 astronomical woodcuts, typographic moon symbols in calendar. Double rule page borders. Publisher’s case binding of olive morocco, covers gold-blocked with very wide rocaille border, Dutch-gilt free endleaves, pastedowns removed gilt edges (small loss to border of lower cover, inner backstrip archivally reinforced, some scuffing to lower cover).***

A nice example of one of the longest published Parisian almanacs, published without interruption from 1700 to 1792, and containing useful information for ladies and gentleman of the Court. Invented by the printer-publisher and typefounder Jean-Jacques Estienne Collombat (1668-1744), the Calendrier de la Cour became a familiar fixture of court life. These little books continued to be referred to as “Collombats” long after the printer’s death, when their publication was continued by the printer Hérissant and later his widow. 

Printed in a very small but easily legible typeface designed by Collombat, the calendar with its ephemerides uses numerous typographic astrological symbols, which he only started using in 1730, when he was finally able to have small enough symbols designed and cast (as he stated in his 1731 issue, cf. Grand-Carteret). The remaining text contains information of interest to the Court: lists of officials and their various charges, births and deaths throughout the European royal families, prominent members of the clergy, etc. At the end are tables of practical information: a table of proper expenses for various annual incomes (from 10 to 100,000 livres), the age of the world, or a table of wine prices, by muid (an ancient unit of measure, used for liquids and grains). 

These almanacs were used by virtually all courtiers and ladies at Court, and the bindings and cover materials reflected their owners’ ranks. The present pretty gold-blocked covers, of fine material but relatively simple to produce, and probably commissioned by the publishers, would have been considered appropriate for an official or lady of relatively low standing. 

Cf. Grand-Carteret, Les Almanachs français, no. 92 and p. XLI.