FOUNDATIONAL WORK ON MODERN FREEMASONRY

ANDERSON, JAMES (+) ENTICK, JOHN.

The Constitutions of the ancient and honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. Containing their history, charges, regulations, &c. Collected and digested by ordrer of the Grand Lodge from their old records, faithful traditions and Lodge-books, for the use of the Lodges. By Jame Anderson D. D. Carefully revised, continued and enlarged, with many additions, by John Entick, M. A.

London, J. Scott, at the Black Swan in Pater-noster Row, 1756.

4to. In a nice later half calf binding with five raised bands. Light miscolouring to extremities. Bookseller-label pasted on to front end-papers (“Librairie des Sciences Occultes", Amsterdam). First and last leaves slightly browned. Tiny wormtract to lower outer margin of last 40 pp., far from affecting text. A very nice and clean copy. (4), 339, (1) pp. + frontispiece.

Rare third edition of one of the foundational texts of modern Freemasonry first published in 1723 and here in its expanded and revised form by John Entick. Anderson’s work represents the earliest official codification of Masonic law and practice, combining legendary history with the formal regulations governing the fraternity.

“Anderson was a freemason, and when, in 1721, on the revival of freemasonry in England, the grand lodge determined to produce an authoritative digest of the ‘Constitutions’ of the fraternity, the task was assigned to him (ENTICK'S edition (1747) of the Constitutions, p. 194 et seq.). It was as a grand warden of the lodge that he presented to it, on completing his task. This work, which passed through several editions, was long recognised by the English freemasons to be the standard code on its subject.” (DNB)

Order-nr.: 63048