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c. 1845, N. Currier Print: Sons Of Temperance

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Prints

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Rare Early Hand-Colored Sons Of Temperance Print

c. 1845, Print "Sons Of Temperance", N. Currier, Choice Very Fine.
This early Temperance print by N. Currier of New York, measuring 13" x 10", has been hand-tinted with dark red, yellow, blue, black and green. Titled "Sons of Temperance - Love, Purity and Fidelity", this print shows two young men, each wearing a neck sash with a round attachment. One man holds a staff, while the other holds a partially unrolled scroll on which we can read the goals of the organization: "... No Brother Shall make, buy, sell or use as a beverage, any Spirituous or Malt, Liquors, Wine or Cider ..." The imprint at the bottom reads: "Lith. & Pub. By N. Currier - 152 Nassau St. Cor. of Spruce, N. Y." This print is currently mounted under glass in an old, wooden frame.


The Sons of Temperance was a brotherhood of men who promoted the temperance movement and mutual support. It began in the 1840s and spread quickly throughout the United States. The organization had a highly restricted membership. In order to become a member (called a "brother"), a man had to be nominated by an existing brother. Three other brothers would then investigate his life to determine if they thought he was worthy of membership. Like other fraternal organizations, the Sons of Temperance had its secret rituals, signs, passwords, hand grips and regalia. The organization also acted as an insurance company. Its constitution required the brotherhood to pay thirty dollars to cover the burial costs of any brother who died. It also required the payment of fifteen dollars for the funeral costs of a member's dead wife. The bylaws required members to visit any sick brother at least once a day, and one of the orders of business at each meeting was to identify any brothers who were ill.

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