RARE – Revolutionary War era Masonic snuff box dated 1792, and partial ID

Being offered is a museum quality 18^th century snuff box. It measures 3” x 1 ¾” x ¾” and is made of polished bone. The flip-top cover features an engraving of iconic arched Roman columns with the Masonic “Square and Compasses” motif in the center, above that the “Eye of Providence”, and in the corner a figure of the sun, which symbolizes the divine spark, wisdom, divine truth, enlightenment, and universal brotherhood.

On one end engraved in fancy script is what appears to be “R W” and the date “1792”. The other end is fainter, but it might be the initial “W”. There are two cracks in the lid that has a period repair using a flat piece of brass on the inside.

Important 18th-century Masons include American Founding Fathers like George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock, as well as other influential figures such as Paul Revere. These men were part of a larger movement where Freemasonry helped to spread Enlightenment ideals across Europe and the American colonies.

This unique piece was created by a very skilled engraver and obviously took quite some time to complete. No doubt this was a very important object to the owner, maybe it was even a presentation piece. This is why he had it repaired instead of discarding it. This is a rare item and would be a great addition to a Revolutionary War collector, or even a museum. 

Revolutionary War artifacts have always been hard to find. With the upcoming of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding next year, there will be a revitalized interest. Just about all Revolutionary War relics and artifacts will be in demand, which will only add to their scarcity and price.