Seth Kaller, Inc.

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JAMES P. KIMBALL. Archive. Approximately fifteen ornate Masonic documents, many relating to James P. Kimball and his family. Kimball was a noted geologist and one-time Director of the United States Mint. Plus over sixty related letters, documents, and ephemera most of which concern Kimball’s Masonic activities.

Inventory #22108.13       Price: $9,500

Many of the documents are masterpieces of the art of printing. Among them:

Boston Lodge Masonic membership certificate for James Kimball, May 30, 1861. Lithograph by J.H Bufford with incredible scenes of roman ruins and laborers working on a new temple. 18 x 14 in.

Salem Lodge Masonic membership certificate for Kimball’s father, 1851. With mirrored text in Latin, blue silk ribbon woven through the left margin with a red seal at the end. 16½ x 10¾ in.

Masonic Supreme Council. James Kimball’s enormous vellum certificate as a “Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33° and HONORARY MEMBER of our SUPREME COUNCIL.” Boston, August 16, 1876. 23 x 17 in.

Washington Royal Arch Chapter (Salem, Massachusetts) Masonic membership certificate for James Kimball as a “Royal Arch Mason” in Washington, signed by Kimball as “King” and again in Latin as “Rex.” Salem, May 10, 1855. 12¾ x 17¼ in.

Boston Lodge Masonic membership certificate for James Kimball as a “S.P.R.S.”, Boston, March 1, 1853. 9 x 12 in.

The collection includes many more including blank vellum certificate for a Royal Arch Mason (11 x 8¼ in.) and vellum certificates for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (9 x 10 in. ea.).

A superb collection of engravings perfect for display.

James P. Kimball (1836-1913) was born in Salem, Massachusetts. He first studied at Harvard and subsequently at several institutions in Germany including the Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen. He became a professor of Chemistry and Economic Geology at Cornell in the 1850s. His work was interrupted by the Civil War, where he served on the staff of Gen. Irvin McDowell and was present at Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. Toward the end of the war, he left the army to work as a mining engineer in New York, taking the position of President of the Everett Iron Company. After some time working for the United States Geological survey, he served as Director of the United States Mint from 1885 to 1889. Following that, worked as a private consulting geologist to western mining and railroad interests.

Condition

Folds, minor foxing, mounting remnants on verso. Some still affixed to loose scrapbook pages, else fine condition.