When Nostradamus died on July 2, 1566, in his home in Salon-de-Provence, France, you might think his career as a prophet had reached its end. But the 16th century's most famous seer had one more trick up his sleeve—or rather, one more manuscript in his desk drawer.

His 1567 almanac hit the streets right on schedule, published posthumously because the prophet had prepared it before his death. It was, perhaps ironically, his most literal demonstration of foresight.

The Almanac Industry Was Nostradamus' Bread and Butter

While modern readers know Nostradamus primarily for his cryptic four-line prophecies called quatrains, his contemporaries knew him best for his annual almanacs. Starting in 1550, when he first Latinized his name from Michel de Nostredame to the more mystical-sounding Nostradamus, he published these yearly guides religiously—and lucratively.

The almanacs were medieval bestsellers, packed with:

Astrological predictions for the coming year
Weather forecasts
Agricultural advice
Prophecies about political events
Medical guidance

Nostradamus was so prolific that he often published two or three separate predictive works per year, distinguishing between detailed "Almanachs," general "Prognostications," and brief "Presages." Across his 16-year publishing career, these works contained at least 6,338 individual prophecies.

Why Publishers Could Release It

In the 16th century, printing almanacs for the following year was standard practice well before January 1st arrived. Publishers needed time to print, bind, and distribute copies across Europe—a process that could take months without modern technology.

Nostradamus, a professional prophet and physician who understood deadlines, had completed his 1567 almanac manuscript before his health deteriorated in mid-1566. When dropsy (severe fluid retention) left him bedridden, the text was already with his publishers.

The irony wasn't lost on anyone. Here was a man famous for predicting the future, publishing predictions for a year he wouldn't live to see—yet he'd accurately predicted he'd need to prepare it early.

Did He Predict His Own Death?

Legend holds that Nostradamus told his secretary Jean de Chavigny, "You will not find me alive at sunrise," on the night of July 1, 1566. True to form, he was found dead the next morning.

His secretary later claimed that Nostradamus had cryptically referenced his own death in Presage 141, written for November 1567. Of course, this presage was edited and published after Nostradamus died, giving Chavigny ample opportunity to retrofit the prophecy to match reality—a common criticism of Nostradamus' work in general.

But the 1567 almanac itself? That was genuine foresight of the mundane, practical kind: a working writer who kept ahead of his deadlines, even unto death.

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