Exceptionally rare 1797 edition of a miniature almanac, in the original mother-of-pearl chemise. The almanac was published by Jan van Gulik in Amsterdam from at least 1781 to 1797, but is very rare, with only one or two copies known for each year. The present copy is currently the only recorded copy for the year 1797. The almanac has been beautifully printed and is easily legible despite its small size. It includes eclipses for the year 1797, a calendar, five short stories, and two poems, and is illustrated by five double-page engravings depicting amorous scenes. The title-page and final page have been engraved on the same double-leaf which has been wrapped around the rest of the work. "Amongst the almanacs printed in the Netherlands, the very finely produced De Kleine Tijdwijzer, of Jufferlijke Almanach is outstandingly attractive" (Bondy).
The mother-of-pearl boards are broken, lacking the upper corner of the front board, with a crack in the front and the back. The wrappers are somewhat stained from the silver, a small water stain in the fore edge margin of the leaves, the first plate is detached, but still present. Otherwise in good condition. This edition not in the STCN; Worldcat; cf. Arthur A. Houghton collection 6 (1792); Bondy, pp. 55-56 and 165; The children's world of learning 2663 (1792); Welsh 4158-4160 (1783, 1791 and 1795); WorldCat 1155049603, 1049574016, 72940005, 68856620, 68856729, 69067816, 245297651 (7 copies for the years 1783, 1785, 1789, 1791, and 1792, of which 3 with a mother-of-pearl chemise).