291

CA - Bodie,Mono County - 1882-1909 - Bodie Lodge Collection

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:350.00 USD Estimated At:700.00 - 1,400.00 USD
CA - Bodie,Mono County - 1882-1909 - Bodie Lodge Collection
Session D is a Mail-Bid Only Auction. Absentee bids will be accepted only. No live bidding will be allowed. All winners will be contacted after the auction. BIDDING ENDS MONDAY JUNE 27 AT 5PM PACIFIC TIME!!!
Lot of 9. 1) Four items relating to the Bodie Commandery No. 15, of the Knights Templar. One item is a letter dated June 5, 1883, and is addressed to J.W. Towle, Esq. The colored letterhead (black, brown, and red) has an ornate B emblazoned on a shield, with swords running through the back and a cross displayed on the upper half of the B in Bodie, followed by "Commandery No. 15." "Pro Dero Et Jure" printed on banner below shield, while "Geo. Winterburn, E.C." and "E.A. Richardson, Rec." printed at bottom of letterhead. Lith. Crocker & Co. S.F. Signed to "Sir Knight and Frater," it asks whether Mr. Towle would be attending "the Conclave at San Francisco in August with this Commandery," and was signed "Chas. H. Kelly Recorder." Foldlines, with several 1/2" tears along the folds. A second item related to the previous letter is a ribbon with "Triennial Conclave San Francisco, 1883. Knights Templar Bodie, California" printed top to bottom. Full color, it appears to have had something attached to the top edge, possibly to be pinned on a jacket. A brown tassel hangs from the bottom. The final 2 items are Masonic Cards from Bodie Commandery No. 15, personal cards bearing the names of A.M. Ellsworth and Samuel McCurdy. Both cards were removed from an album, with some paper from the album still attached on the back. One bears a crowned Passion Cross laid upon the Cross pattée inscribed with "In Hoc Signo Vinces" resting upon crossed swords, often used to represent the Knights Templar; the other carries a symbol of a knight on a horse, holding a shield , which also bears a cross, measuring 4" x 2". Both show "Bodie, Cal." at the bottom right, with "Bodie Commandery No. 15, San Francisco, 1883" printed below the knight. McCurdy was an native of Ireland who came to America in 1852, working in Bodie as a machinist. These cards are fairly rare. 2) Two items from the A.O.U.W. (Ancient Order United Workmen). A 1902 booklet, "By-Laws of Bodie Lodge No. 143. A.O.U.W. Printed at office of Bodie Miner, Idaho. H.W. Wood, Publisher. Indexed, eight pages, measures 3" x 5". A dance card programme for the "21st Anniversary of the A.O.U.W. Bodie Lodge No. 143. Bodie. Oct. 28, 1889. Illustration on front appears to be a bear walking across railroad tracks. Listed on the last page of four are members of the Committee of Arrangements, reception Committee, Floor Managers, Floor Director, and Prompter. Suspended using blue string with gold tassel. Card's two folding pages have been separated. 3) "Receipt for Dues, Bodie Chapter, No. 55, R.A.M. (Royal Arch Mason). Datelined Bodie, Mono Co., Cal., Dec 5, 1882. "Received from Comp. J.W. Tole (likely Towle, from letter noted above), Dues to Dec 1, 1882. Embossed seal with several Masonic symbols in upper left. 4) A ticket from the "Grand New Year's Ball, To Be Given by Mono Lodge, No. 59 Knights of Pythias At Miner's Union Hall. Tuesday Evening,… 1901. Illustration on left shows knight's helmet in front of banner reading "F C B," (defined below) held up by two crossed axes, with "K of P" on lower banner. The Order of Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization founded in Washington, DC, February 19, 1864, by Justus H. Rathbone. It included over two thousand subordinate lodges in the United States and Canada. While each order determines its ideal sentiment, the primary principles of the Order are "FRIENDSHIP, CHARITY and BENEVOLENCE" [Ref: www.pythias.org]. 5) Three receipts from the Order of the Treasurer, Bodie Lodge, No. 279, I.O.O.F. (Independent Order of Odd Fellows). Two are from Brother W.H. Thompson, Treasurer, for $13.55 to (illegible) for services during Dec., 1908. The second, for $16.00, to Jas. Borland for two weeks sick benefits dated Feb. 18, 1909. A third, from Brother H. Boomer for $12.00, issued to Mrs. E. (illegible) for salary as (illegible). Stapled together, each measures 7 1/2" x 3".