First edition. Two volumes. Publisher's original light blue cloth decorated and with titles in gilt to the spine. With a tissue guarded frontispiece and 13 further illustrations in volume I; a tissue guarded frontispiece and 22 illustrations in volume II; some folding. A near fine copy, the bindings square and firm with minor bumping at the spine tips and a small hand written catalogue number in white at the base of the lightly faded spines. The contents, with the engraved masonic bookplate of Supreme Council 33 to the front pastedown, and the ownership name stamp of John Glas Sanderman to the front endpapers of both volumes, and also the dedication page in vol II, are otherwise clean and bright throughout. Many pages uncut. A remarkable example of a very scarce title, in entirely original condition.
George Oliver (1782-1867) was a prominent English clergyman, topographer, prolific writer and respected historian and scholar of freemasonary. He was elected deputy past grand master of masons for Lincolnshire in 1832, and in 1840 was appointed an honorary member of the grand lodge of Massachusetts, with the rank of deputy grand master.
Stock code: 23968
£475