Illustrations Of Masonry. By The Late William Preston, Past Master Of The Lodge Of Antiquity, Acting By Immemorial Constitution. The Thirteenth Edition. With Corrections And Additions, By Stephen Jones, Past Master Of the Same Lodge.

London: Printed For G. And W. B. Whittaker, Ave Maria Lane, 1821.. A very good later brown buckram binding. 12mo. 7.50" x 4.50" x 1.50" . pp.xxiii/1p./pp.432 . Brown boards, with gilt title to spine: "Illustrations Of Masonry - Preston". Original plain endpapers, lightly soiled. Previous owner's label to verso of the front board: "Brian Woodall...". Engraved portrait frontis of William Preston ( lightly foxed), "Engraved by Ridley from an Original Painting by S. Drummond A.R. for Preston's Illustrations." "London: Published by J. Asperne, 32 Cornhill, June 1811." Printed title page, with shadow of the engraving. Preface dated; "Dean-steet, Fetter-lane, Feb. 1812. Clear English text throughout, on toned paper. A very good example of an early printing of this popular title. ** William Preston 7 August 1742 - April 1, 1818. William Preston was a Scottish author, born in Edinburgh. The exact date of Preston's initiation into Freemasonry is not known, but is thought to have been between 1762 and 1763, in London. He discovered a vast body of traditional and historical lore in the old documents of the Craft, and begun modernizing the format of group meetings in such a way as to make ritual accessible, bringing a rudimentary knowledge of the arts and sciences to members of the Fraternity. Preston embarked upon detailed communication with Masons worldwide, so developing extensive knowledge of the Craft, and collecting the material which was to become his best known book, Illustrations of Masonry published in 1772. In 15 June, 1774, he visited the Lodge of Antiquity No. 1, (one of the four Lodges that formed the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1717), and was subsequently elected a member and Worshipful Master at the same meeting. He became an active member of the Grand Lodge, and was later appointed Deputy Grand Secretary under James Heseline. After a brief period of expulsion from the fraternity for his support of a factional disagreement between the Grand Lodge of Moderns and the society over public use of ritual paraphernalia he was reinstated in 1787, all his honours and dignities restored, whereupon he resumed his Masonic activities.