1910s – 500 Pages Almanach Hachette – Vintage French almanac – WWI edition “Petite Encyclopédie de la Vie Pratique”

Authentic Almanach Hachette from the 1910s — a rare and evocative edition published during the years of the First World War. Issued by Librairie Hachette in Paris, this beautifully illustrated “Petite Encyclopédie Populaire de la Vie Pratique” combines the precision of a scientific manual with the warmth of a domestic guide.

Printed for the year 1915, this wartime edition holds a special place in the long history of the Almanach Hachette. Amidst a Europe at war, they continued to offer readers practical advice, scientific knowledge, and cultural insights — a reassuring presence in uncertain times. The pages blend astronomy, agriculture, home economics, and moral reflections, enriched with detailed engravings and charts typical of early 20th-century French printmaking.

This issue opens a window into daily life during the Great War: the advertisements, calendar pages, and moral aphorisms reveal how ordinary citizens adapted to shortages and upheaval. Far from propaganda, these volumes preserved the Hachette tradition — informing, educating, and uplifting through knowledge and routine.

Created in 1894, the Almanach Hachette became an annual institution in French households. Its goal: to provide a complete yearly compendium of science, culture, and practical living — from astronomy and meteorology to history, hygiene, and home remedies.

This early edition is a captivating piece of French cultural history, ideal for collectors of antique books, ephemera enthusiasts, or those fascinated by wartime publishing. A genuine survivor from the Belle Époque to the Great War, carrying the texture and typography of another era.