1/1, 1842 - 1913 (?)

6d, 80-96 pp.

This was a standard almanac of the period with phases of the moon, lists of fortunate days derived from appropriate astrological signs, tables of the rising and setting of the sun, planting times, tide tables, prognostications of the weather, snippets of curious history, notable historical events by date, prophetic observations, predictions of storms, winds and earthquakes and an annual symbolic Hieroglyphic plate of the Fates of Nations for the coming year (the meaning of whose glyphs was explained in the following year's almanac), all of which was glossed with popular astrology of the sort that later would later grace newspaper astrological columns. In the 1870s the journal added an ephemeris to its annual offerings. The almanac also offered "The Oracle of Delphos" or "Universal Oracle of Pastime and Amusement" that would provide a correct answer to any question by counting the letters in the questioner's name and the subject of the question adding a secret number for the day of the week and for the ruling planet, divide by 27 and compare the last resulting digit with a list of fortunate and unfortunate numbers.

Orion was John Hammerton of Peterborough (d. 1887), who is regularly listed as the person to whom to remit payments, questions and subscriptions and whose wife Mrs. M.P. Hammerton (Mary Picard Hammerton, 1823-1880) is credited with the compounding of "Orion's Astro-Botanic Compounds"-- solar pills (ensures regularity of the bowels), lunar pills ("a domestic medicine for Females of all ages and periods of life"), pulmonic pills (allays the irritation which provokes coughing), all 1s. 1 1/2d. a box. Orion also offered astrological prognostications, including nativities for 5s. (7s. 6d. if they included "Judgment on Marriage"). Hammerton is listed in the 1881 census as "Author of Orion's Almanac."