‎"ANDERSON, JAMES.‎
‎The History and Constitutions of the Most ancient and honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons. - [FOUNDATIONAL WORK ON MODERN FREEMASONRY]‎

‎(London, J. Robinson, In the vulgar Year of Masonry 5746 (1746)). 8vo. In later full sprinkled calf. Wanting the title-page. First leaf reinforced in inner margin, loss of paper in margin, with loss of letters and upper outer corner of the engraved vignette. First five leaves frayed in margin, but no loss of lettering. Light marginal browning throughout. Printed on good paper. III-X, (2), 230, (2) pp. ‎

Reference : 63217

‎Exceedingly rare second edition of one of the foundational texts of modern Freemasonry first published in 1723. Anderson’s work represents the earliest official codification of Masonic law and practice, combining legendary history with the formal regulations governing the fraternity. ""It is still rarer than the 1738 edition"" Mr. Hughan in 1890 only knew of nineteen copies."" (Vibert, The Rare Books of Freemasonry). “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) Wolfstieg 20416 (Sehr selten).Vibert, The Rare Books of Freemasonry: Constitutions part II, no. 6.‎