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Almanacs are regularly published works that provide up to date information on a wide range of subjects. In the past they were important items – offering practical details and being frequently consulted. Our collection, which dates back to the colonial era, remains useful today, giving valuable insight into life during the period.

This example, a chromolithograph printed in 1849 by T. Browne in Macquarie Street, is something of a novelty – a Hobart Town almanac designed to fit inside a hat. The information it provides is basic, but it does include a calendar for the year alongside colourful depictions of shipping signal flags, allowing users to identify the purpose of ships making their way up the river.