Antique 1910 Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen Illumination Chapleau Ont Snow Drift Lodge

$120.00

Brand Etsy

This is a poster sized hand drawn illumination given in appreciation of William L Best who was being promoted to the Canadian Legislative Board of the Brotherhood of the Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen. I have another illumination that was given to him during the 1930s, when he achieved 50 years of membership in the B of LF&E. This illumination was given to him while he was a member of the Chapleau Ontario Snow Drift Lodge. The document is signed at the bottom by two lodge executive members. This illumination is entirely hand done and signed at the bottom with Edith E. Shaw. Illuminator. Toronto.. It measures 14 1/4 in width by 19 and is in very good condition with the exception of age browning, mostly visible at the back (see last close-up photo) and a 1 side tear that just needs a tape reinforcement at the back.. The Brotherhood was originally founded as a secret society that adopted rituals modelled somewhat on Freemasonry, but eventually became a trade union, much needed as injury and death rates were the highest across all industries, even higher than miners.
This is a rare collectible that came out of the estate of a serious railroad and ephemera collector - interesting on a number of levels.the piece will be delivered rolled up in a box