London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1816. [London]: Printed for the Company of Stationers, [1815] . Miniature with original decorated red morocco binding, gilt, onlays in buff, blue and green and a central hot-air balloon. Matching slipcase. Graphic Arts Collection 2014- in process

The Stationers’ Company (British publishing guild) issued a series of miniature almanacs. The earliest in OCLC is 1748 and the most recent 1852, all approximately 55 mm. Many feature an engraving at the front depicting a British landmark significant to that year. The almanac recently acquired by the Graphic Arts Collection has a panoramic view of the New Bethlehem Hospital, folded and bound as p. [2-5].

Property was purchased in 1810 at St. George’s Fields in Southwark for the building of a new Bethlehem Hospital. James Lewis’ design took three years to build, finally opening to patients in 1815 with an additional wing completed in 1816.