OLD TESTAMENT ALMANACK
[ALMANACK.]
Le triomphe de la vertu. Sujets tirés de la Sainte Bible.
Paris, Janet, [1814].
24mo, ff. [24], with engraved title-page and a further 12 engraved plates, letterpress calendar for 1814 bound in with woodcut signs of the zodiac at head; text within woodcut frame; lightly toned, sporadic foxing; else a very good copy, recased in its original contemporary red straight-grained morocco case-binding, borders within a roll-tooled gilt frame of grapes and vine leaves, spine gilt to a geometric design, top-edge gilt; in a matching slipcase; corners of binding and slipcase worn, a few spots.
A very rare biblical almanack for 1814 by Janet, attractively illustrated with engraved plates depicting episodes from the Old Testament.
The title depicts the sacrifice of a ram, and the twelve plates represent, respectively, Abraham and the three messengers; the Sacrifice of Isaac; Ruth gleaning in the field of Boaz; the elders deciding on the marriage of Ruth; Samuel anointing David; Absalom’s revolt; Elijah being fed by ravens; Elijah resurrecting the son of the widow of Zarephath; the departure of Tobias from home; Tobias healing his father; the coronation of Esther; and the triumph of Mordechai. Each story features short verses, to be sung to popular tunes, and a longer prose summary.
Pierre-étienne Janet (1746–1830) was a prolific publisher of almanacks, having taken over the bindery and shop of his father-in-law, Pierre Jubert. The Triomphe de la vertu,/i> appears to have been reissued, with the same text and plates but with a modified calendar leaf, c. 1811–25.
OCLC records only two copies of the Triomphe de la vertu, at the Grolier Club (undated) and the Zeeuwse Bibliotheek in Middelburg (1825). Not in Library Hub.
