1856. Large broadside, 535 x 77mm, meticulously penned in pencil, ink and wash in an elegant calligraphic hand, divided into three tables within attractive architectural frames, each incorporating calligraphic flourishes, and with central pencil drawn image of Chronos armed with his scythe; discrete repairs to central tear, some light browning and foxing visible with one or two minor abrasions visible, but otherwise bright; mounted, surrounded with marbled paper; a striking example. A large and most attractively executed perpetual calendar, the work of the young Seminary student Emile Pédedieu in 1856 at the Collège d’Aire (most likely to be in the historic town of Aire-sur-Adour in South Western France), and dedicated to his ‘dear parents’. The central pencil drawing done in pencil, represents Chronos armed with his scythe. Three architectural columns contain the various calendar tables and instructions for use, all of which have been meticulously drawn, incorporating numerous calligraphic flourishes and delicate use of wash shading.
‘Instructions for using the perpetual calendar. To find out the day of the week on which the month will have started (or will have to start), look for the Sunday letter of the year and then the month; and following the line where it is placed, up to the column and below the Sunday letter of the year, you will find the day of the week with which the month should begin. If the month begins on a Monday, go to the Monday table, etc., etc’ (online translation). ‘Dominical letters are used to determine the day of the week for any given date. The letters A through G are assigned to the days in the week, beginning with A for January 1. The dominical letter for any given year indicates the letter that is assigned to Sunday for that year. For leap years, two letters are assigned because throughout January and February, Sunday will fall on a particular letter. After February 29, Sunday will fall on the next letter in the sequence’ (Amy Bishop, ‘Cardinal Tales’ blog on the Iowa State University Website from July 5th 2018).