General History, Cyclopedia, and Dictionary of Freemasonry
By Robert Macoy, 33°
Masonic Publishing Company, New York, 1871
Illustrated with More Than 300 Engravings
Description:
Published in 1871, this monumental work by Robert Macoy — one of the most influential Masonic publishers of the nineteenth century — stands among the earliest comprehensive reference volumes on the Craft.
Macoy’s General History, Cyclopedia, and Dictionary of Freemasonry combines history, symbolism, and technical terminology into a single richly illustrated volume. It presents a detailed account of the rise and progress of Freemasonry, its ancient and modern concordant bodies, and the definitions of Masonic terms in use throughout the fraternity.
Bound in embossed black boards with a gilt “G” surrounded by columns and working-tools, the book is both visually striking and historically significant. Inside are detailed engravings of jewels, emblems, lodge furnishings, and ritual symbols — the artistic work of the Masonic Publishing Company’s early presses at 430 Broome Street, New York.
Condition:
Good. Spine separated but text block intact; gilt front decoration bright; marbled endpapers and edges vivid. All pages present and legible with moderate age toning. Includes full complement of engravings and charts.
Details:
-
Author: Robert Macoy, 33°
-
Publisher: Masonic Publishing Company, New York
-
Date: 1871 (First Edition)
-
Binding: Embossed leather-look boards with gilt emblem and marbled rear cover
-
Illustrations: Over 300 engravings, including charts of Masonic jewels and emblems
-
Pagination: Approx. 700 pp.
-
Condition: Good; complete but with external wear
-
Provenance: No markings noted
Significance:
Macoy’s encyclopedia laid the groundwork for all later American Masonic reference works, including Mackey’s. It remains a foundational text for understanding the symbolic and organizational development of Freemasonry in the nineteenth century.
