[Chicago Ante-Fire Imprint].

Broadside of Masonic songs, "Waubansia Lodge, No. 160" [caption title].

Chicago: Democratic Press Print, 45 Clark Street, [ca. 1855-1857]. First edition. Broadside on heavy stock white coated paper, approx. 10-3/4 x 6-3/4 inches. A bit soiled and worn; in very good condition. Item #14180

An evidently unrecorded bit of Chicago ante-fire printing, the lyrics to four songs for Masonic brethren of Waubansia Lodge in Chicago. The imprint date seems probable: according to Andreas' History of Chicago, 1884, the lodge was established in late 1855 (Andreas does not note Harris among the charter or early members of the lodge, alas); further, the Daily Democratic Press newspaper merged with the Chicago Tribune in 1858 to become the Democratic Tribune; and finally, this broadside has a pencil signature on the verso, "Geo. Harris, May 5, 1857." This marks a rare venture into semi-literary printing (of a sort) by this press, which seemed mostly concerned with boosting development and printing railroad corporate reports. Not found in Ante-Fire Imprints. Not found on OCLC, the American Antiquarian Society online catalogue, nor the Library of Congress online catalogue. A couple of neat pencil doodles in the lower margin.

Price: $150.00