Label Text:
"Beyond his painting, writing, and printing, Porter maintained his passion for the mechanical arts. One of his earliest creations in 1821 was the Revolving Almanack, an experimental novelty that combined graphics and moving parts. Collaborating with Abel Bowen, he took a Perpetual Almanack, like the one designed by Goold, his former Maine neighbor, and animated it. The insertion of an internal movable wheel or revolver allowed the picture or wheel chart to move, creating a significant early American volvelle…By turning the wheel, the viewer can find the day’s pertinent data as well as relevant images: a man and horse at work sowing in the spring, haying in summer, reaping in the fall, and resting from labor to enjoy a sleigh ride in winter…An ingenious example of an early nineteenth-century novelty, Porter’s Revolving Almanack pushed the boundaries of paper engineering.” (Sprague and Wolff). The Abel Bowen-engraved version was issued in Billerica, Mass. circa 1821-22. It is thought that the first print run was small but it sold well, resulting in the publication of other editions.
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https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2023.8.28 |
