The Antiquities of Freemasonry and 12 Others from the Masonic Library Series
Philadelphia: Leon Hyneman, 1854-1856. Uniform American Edition. 13 publications bound in 2 volumes, each entry with uniform title page. Frontis in Vol. 2, few illustrations in the text. Each volume continuously paginated, 768 and 768pp, with volume 2 also being paginated by publication. Bound for Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, Samuel M. Todd in dark morocco bindings with gilt tooling and lettering, mottled page edges, marbled endpapers. Bindings rubbed and worn, but sound. Upper joint of Vol 2 with small split at head. Internally toned, and with occasional foxing, more pronounced in vol 2. A very good set.
An attractive set with a great provenance, being owned by Samuel M. Todd (1815-1905) who served as Grand Master of Masons in Louisiana in 1859, 1868, and 1870-1872. He was also grand commander of the Knights Templar of Louisiana in 1866-67. These pamphlets were published monthly in Philadelphia by Leon Hyneman from 1854-56, with the goal of reprinting and circulating standard Masonic works. We find it likely this is a complete set. Includes:
Vol 1: The Antiquities of Freemasonry by Rev. George Oliver; The Constitutions of the Freemasons; Illustrations of Masonry by W. Preston; History of Freemasonry, from the year 1829 to the Present Time by Rev. George Oliver; The Book of the Lodge by George Oliver; A Short View of the History of Freemasonry by William Sandys; A Freemason's Pocket Companion
Vol 2: Ahiman Rezon by Lau. Dermott; A Dictionary of Symbolical Masonry by George Oliver; The History of Initiation by George Oliver; The Early History of Freemasonry in England by James Orchard Haliwell; The New Book of Constitutions by James Anderson; The Laws and Constitutions of the Grand Lodge... of Scotland.
OCLC lists several holdings for single volumes and entries in this series, but of the 2 volume set, only the AAS, University of Toronto, and Scottish Rite Masonic Museum are cited. An important, mid-19th century series of masonic literature with ties to a Southern Masonic leader of the Civil War era. Item #8787
Price: $500.00