ANDERSON (James). The Constitutions of the antient and honou - Lot 39

ANDERSON (James). The Constitutions of the antient and honourable fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Containing their history, charges, regulations, &c. Collected and digested by order of the Grand Lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and Lodge-books, for the use of the Lodges. London: printed for Brother J. Scott, 1756. In the vulgar year of Masonry 5756. Large in-4, garnet morocco, cloisonné and fleuronné ribbed spine, gilt bird's eye lace framing the boards, black title-piece on the first board, "CONSTITUTIONS OF MASONRY", black bookplate on the second board, "SHIP LODGE IN LEADENHALL STREET", roulette decorating the spines and bands, gilt edges (period binding). (4 of which the 2nd is blank)-339-(one blank) pp; headpieces and corners rebacked, spine restored, title renewed. FIRST EDITION OF THE CONSTITUTIONS IN THEIR REVISED AND ENLARGED FORM BY JOHN ENTICK. First-edition copper-engraved frontispiece by Benjamin Cole after Louis-Philippe Boitard, both Masons, depicting a seated female figure with Masonic symbols at her feet and the coat of arms of the Grand Lodge of England, including, in the background, a view of London featuring several monuments built by Christopher Wren, including Saint-Paul. LODGE EXEMPLAIRE: Ship Lodge in Leadenhall Street, London, founded in 1752 (bookplate on second cover). ANNOTATED BY FRANC MASONRY HISTORIAN AND BIBLIOGRAPHER GEORG KLOSS (1787-1854, printed bookplate with handwritten additions; early handwritten notes in ink, in English and German, in the margin of the general regulations of the Grand Lodge of June 2, 1754, and pencil notes in the margin of the chronological list of Lodges in the appendix).