[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 Intimidation and violence against the tax collectors made enforcement nearly impossible and the Act was repealed in March 1766.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.

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Darren Winston

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

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

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