History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders with Signature.
History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders
Editors: Henry Leonard Stillson (Editor-in-Chief), William James Hughan (European Editor)
Published: 1898, The Fraternity Publishing Company, Boston and New York
Also issued by: George Kenning, London, England
Description:
A magnificent late-Victorian Masonic volume, History of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons and Concordant Orders stands among the most ambitious illustrated histories of Freemasonry ever produced. Edited by noted Masonic scholars Henry Leonard Stillson and William James Hughan, this 1898 edition explores the origins, legends, and growth of the Craft and its allied bodies with scholarly authority and artistic grandeur.
Lavishly illustrated with engravings and photogravures—including dramatic depictions of the Knights Templar, early lodge scenes, and historic Masonic architecture—the work traces the development of Freemasonry from the operative builders’ guilds to the speculative fraternity, with detailed sections on the York Rite, Scottish Rite, Eastern Star, and other concordant organizations.
The handsome cover design features gilt and silver stamping on dark green cloth, with a Masonic altar, open Bible, and radiating star motif—one of the most recognizable bindings in the genre.
Details:
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Year: 1898
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Publisher: The Fraternity Publishing Company (Boston & New York)
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London agent: George Kenning, 16 Great Queen Street, Holborn
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Binding: Original embossed green cloth with gilt and silver decoration
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Pages: Approx. 800 (varies slightly by issue)
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Illustrated throughout with full-page engravings and photogravures
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Dimensions: 11.5 x 9 inches (approx.)
Condition (example listing copy
Very good condition for its age. Binding tight; gilt bright on cover; some light edge wear consistent with age. Interior pages clean with only minor foxing.
Significance:
This edition remains a cornerstone reference for Masonic historians and collectors alike—an impressive visual and literary survey of the Craft’s symbolism, traditions, and associated bodies at the zenith of 19th-century Freemasonry.
