d’Erve der Wed. C. Stichters almanach, op ’t schrikkel-iaar onses heeren Jesu Christi, 1788. Voorsien met Jaar-, Paarden-, Beesten- en Leermarkten. Als mede de Vacantien, het varen der trekschuyten en beurtschepen, het vertrek der Posten en Postwagens. Nevens de Maans Op- en Ondergang.Amsterdam, Erfg. van de Wed. C. Stichter, [1787], 12°, black sharkskin, spine restored, with a silver centerpiece depicting a VOC-vessel and two silver clasps with the monogram VOCD (VOC chamber of Delft), at both covers. With the original silver pen connecting the clasps and at the same time functioning as a catch. Gilded edges. Almanac printed in black and red. Before the almanac three marbled and three blank flyleafs. With seven leafs of waxcoated paper, interleafed with blanks. At the back a pocket, made of brocate paper and green silk. Beautiful copy of a rare VOC-almanac. Almanacs of this kind were made as special gifts for the Rotterdam and Delft chamber of the Dutch East India Company. The printed almanac is combined with specially prepared paper on which one could write with the silver pencil. These writings could be removed afterwards, to be able to use the pages again. This technique was used in the 16th and 17th century for note-books and sketch-books. Artists like Rembrandt and Goltzius used them to make a removable draft for a drawing or print. Usually the printed almanac was removed from the binding after the year had passed, leaving a usable note book. An entry in the diary of the Amsterdam silversmith Johan George Holtzhey (1726-1808) reveals that the silver work for both the Delft and Rotterdam chamber of the VOC were made by him. Each year he made about twelve of these almanacs by order of the chambers of Delft and Rotterdam, which were meant as gifts for friends and relations of the directors. About 20 of these VOC-almanacs are known in public collections, but only two of them still contain the original calendar. A12.B0094.l Printer's mark in title page, some writings in pencil on some of the blank pages, including the names: Berend Hingenberg, D. van Dokkum and N. van Dokkum.