Bibliotheca Klossiana

The official seal of the Grand Lodge of Masons in London, established in 1717. It incorporates the traditional three-tower coat of arms supported by beavers—symbols of industry and cooperation—and bears the motto 'Relief and Truth'.

This plate illustrates the specific ceremonial attire and insignia used within the IX Province (Sweden) of a fraternal order, likely the Swedish Rite of Freemasonry. The three figures showcase different ranks or roles, highlighting the importance of visual symbolism and regalia in 18th and 19th-century secret societies, specifically for the installation of the Vicarii Salomonis in 1780.

This intricate diagram, labeled 'Figura III', serves as a visual map of the alchemical universe, linking the macrocosm of the heavens to the microcosm of the human body. Through a sophisticated arrangement of geometric forms and symbolic figures, it illustrates the 'Rebis'—the hermaphroditic union of opposites—as the key to achieving the Philosopher's Stone and divine wisdom.

This engraving displays a series of eight ceremonial banners associated with the Swedish province of a chivalric or Masonic order, likely the Rite of Strict Observance. The designs incorporate a rich array of symbols, from memento mori motifs like the skull to allegorical figures and heraldic crosses, reflecting the complex ritualistic life and visual identity of these organizations in the late 18th century.

This detailed engraving captures the romanticized ruins of a site attributed to the Knights Templar, marked by the date 1314—the year of the order's dissolution. The inclusion of the red cross and the cryptic 'B.M.B.A.' initials highlights the enduring fascination with Templar lore within 19th-century esoteric and historical circles.

This pencil sketch serves as a preparatory study for a Masonic tracing board representing the 'Elu' (Elect) degree. It depicts a rugged, cavernous exterior inhabited by a lion, a bear, and a tiger, symbols often associated with the trials and wilderness motifs found in the allegorical narratives of the higher Masonic degrees.

This pencil sketch serves as a ritual tableau for the Masonic 'Elu' degree, illustrating key symbolic elements including a funerary urn marked 'ANRM', a mourning figure, and a dog. These motifs are central to the degree's narrative of discovery and mourning, reflecting the instructional traditions of 19th-century Dutch Freemasonry.

This intricate engraving serves as a 'tableau' or tracing board for the Masonic degree of Chevalier Prince d'Orient (Knight of the East). It presents a dense array of symbolic motifs—including the sun and moon, architectural tools, and a celestial throne—designed to guide the initiate through the moral and philosophical lessons of the rite.

This engraving depicts a 'tableau' or tracing board for the Masonic degree of Chevalier Prince d'Orient (Knight Prince of the East). The scene illustrates key allegorical elements of the degree's ritual, including the crossing of a river filled with the remains of those who failed the trial, symbolic objects like the seven-branched candlestick, and the letters J and B representing the pillars of Solomon's Temple.