I.O.O.F. Costumes and Supplies Catalog No. 42 The Ward-Stilson Co. Established 1888 New London, Ohio

New London, OH: The Ward-Stilson Co., 1910. First Edition. Cloth. Very Good Plus. Tall 4to. 28 by 13 cm. 253, [1] pp. Virtually each page features a different costume, some of them with a sinister or strange air, some with ancient associations. The costumes can also range from ecclesiastic or biblical to pagan, academic to martial. Almost all are depicted head to toe and with actual photographed faces, although these would appear to have been pasted onto the costume, with the actual persons not photographed modeling the garments. (An early photo-shopping, if you will.) Also peddled are banners, painted scroll backdrops, swords, spears, wands, torcheres, harps, minute books -- all the paraphernalia that might serve a fraternal order or dress-up men's club The Ward-Stilson Company was founded in 1888 and became a major purveyor of uniforms, specializing in those for the Freemasons and other fraternal orders, and later military uniforms and other lines. The company folded in 1955. Minor soiling to the cloth. The slightest of cocks to the binding. Clean and tight otherwise.