Anecdote Maçonnique = A Masonic anecdote / dessiné par un Frere Maçon, témoin de la scêne ; design'd by a Brother Mason, a witness of the scene.
London : Publish'd November 21st 1786. for the Propietor, by H. Humphrey, New Bond Street, ca. 1797]
Title from item.
Caption in French and English under each title, respectively.
Thirty lines of verse in French below image on left, under title, Abregè de l'histoire du Comte Arabe: Nè Dieu sait où, maintenu Dieu sait comme ...
Thirty lines of verse in English below image on right, under title, Abstract of the Arabian Count's memoirs: Born God knows where, supported God knows how ...
Cagliostro came to England after his release from the Bastille in 1786; he was the founder of a new (Egyptian) order of Free Masons.
Library's copy closely trimmed within plate mark.
Formerly owned by Sir Robert Peel.
"A masonic feast: in the centre of the room on a platform is an empty armchair decorated with a masonic symbol. Below it and on the right is a table with punch-bowl, glasses, candles, &c, behind which are the English members of the Lodge, some seated, others standing. On the left sit the French members, the most prominent being Cagliostro; all wear masonic aprons. ... A mason at the extreme right brings in a punch-bowl. Candle-sconces and masonic emblems decorate the wall."--British Museum online catalogue.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850, former owner.