The A.O.F.B. Membership Book of Ritual

Membership booklet 1796, named to Frank Bodger, c/o Messrs. Copestake, Cheapside. Pictures kindly supplied by Billy Boyle. The membership belonged to Billy's father-in-law's father.
It is quite possible that Bert Temple knew or was friends with Frank Bodger, Bert was a silk agent based in Cheapside, Copestake's were a lace makers/vendors and there was a Bodgers Haberdashery store, was Frank related to the owners?

This is the earliest known membership book in existance, the booklets starting at 1701, the first 1700 memberships were a card - yet to be seen - anyone ?
The exterior front cover is printed with the GL Stampa cartoon that appears on page 3 of later membership books. Worth noting too that the ink is magenta rather than a dark sepia.

To view a  high resolution version of the page please click the thumbnail . A zip of all the pages can be dowloaded here:  1796.zip  6.5 mb     Right click and Save as 

Note:  Please use your browsers BACK button to return to this page.

The Membership booklet was copyright of the Bert Temple. As Bert passed in 1931, the copyright statute ( 70 years ) has now elapsed.

The information has been reproduced in the interests of keeping alive.

Back to Home

Back to Booklets

Back to Regalia / Merchandise