1898 National Masonic Fair Lot 14in Prospectus & Letter New Temple Washington DC For Sale

# Rare 1898 National Masonic Fair 14" Large Folio Prospectus & Solicitation Letter
Up for sale is a premier, museum-grade 2-piece archive of original 1898 historical documents from Washington, D.C. Both items are formatted on massive, large-format 14-inch folio sheets utilizing the ornate official letterhead of the "National Masonic Fair Exposition Board of Control," J.H. Small, President. The top of the letterhead features the bold mandate: "For the new Masonic Temple Fund." 
### 📜 Crucial Content & Verbatim Quotes: 1. **Solicitation Letter:** Written to explicitly grab the attention of out-of-state Commanderies and Sir Knights to rally around the enclosed prospectus. The text notes:* *"To erect an edifice dedicated to masonry in the nation's capital, worthy of our order, is an undertaking the local fraternity cannot accomplish unaided..."** It provides incredible cultural context regarding the architectural race in D.C., stating: *"Educational, religious, and other organizations are entrenching themselves conspicuously at the seat of government. Masonry, therefore, should and must have here a home commensurate with the dignity and importance of the institution..."** It sets the historic deadline: *"It is desired that all contributions be received here by April 11, or before the close of the fair, if possible, so that building arrangements can begin at once."*2. **The 14" Double-Sided Prospectus:** Printed on both sides of matching 14-inch letterhead, this extensive layout maps out the grand logistics of the project. It explicitly states:* *"The object of the fair and exposition is to raise funds to be applied to the construction of a Masonic Temple in the city of Washington... to make it an architectural ornament, and a substantial addition to the many public and private edifices of the city..."** The documents provide an exhaustive, invaluable primary source list of names of active Committees and Honorary Committees overseeing the national campaign.
### Item Specifics:* **Date:** 1898* **Size:** * **Organization:** National Masonic Fair Exposition Board of Control (Washington, D.C.)* **Project Target:** New Masonic Temple Fund (13th St & New York Ave)* **Format:** 2-Piece matching set (Circular letter + Prosspectus
These two items are a matched pair of large-format (14-inch) official administrative documents containing a high-stakes, nationally targeted text pitch, they are vastly more valuable than standard business letters. It is the official sovereign rollout package sent to out-of-state Masonic commanders to solicit nationwide support. The wording directly references the intense late-Victorian "architectural space race" in Washington D.C., where fraternal groups rushed to build grand monuments to match competing national organizations.Historical Context & Organization Identification

• The Organization: The National Masonic Fair & Exposition was a massive, high-profile multi-week festival held in Washington, D.C. in April 1898. Its singular goal was to generate massive civic funding to construct the grand New Masonic Temple at the intersection of 13th Street and New York Avenue (completed in 1908).
• The President: J.H. Small (John H. Small) was a prominent Washingtonian, elite florist, and civic booster who served as President of the exposition's high-level Board of Control alongside major D.C. developers and contractors.
• The Event's Historical Timing: This fair was a national phenomenon. President William McKinley personally pressed a golden button from the White House to light up the exposition building on opening night. Finding internal Board of Control letters from the weeks leading up to this monumental 1898 event is highly unusual.