The Physical Condition of Selected Non Periodicals from the Collection of the Moravian Library in Brno. A Brief Digression on the Issue of Calendars, Almanacs, and Yearbooks

SUMMARY: Calendars, yearbooks, and almanacs were originally produced as job prin ting in the early days of book printing. Often produced as single sheets, they gained popularity among readers and thus became a significant part of printing and publishing production. By the 19th century at the latest, they had become a phenomenon in their own right. These three types of non-periodicals are the subject of interest in this study, particularly in terms of their physical condition. The research examined the type of paper used and its acidity. The volumes examined were primarily from the collection of the Moravian Library in Brno. Comparisons were made possible either by the availability of multiple copies of the same editions or by volumes held in the library of the Benedictine Abbey in Rajhrad. The findings show that the production of calendars, almanacs, and yearbooks did not deviate from the standard practices of the printing house in terms of the paper used. Similarly, the surface pH values show no significant deviation from those of other products; perhaps the only surprising finding is the generally low pH of handmade paper from the early 19th century.

KEYWORDS: calendars, almanacs, yearbooks, non-periodicals, physical condition, paper acidity, handmade paper, machine-made paper

PhDr. Jindra Pavelková, Ph.D. / Moravská zemská knihovna v Brně (Moravian Library), Kounicova 65a, 601 87 Brno