Item Info

Creation Date: 5/25/1780
Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 186
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Dieses \ Vorschriften-Büchlein \ gehöret \ Abraham Landes \ Schreibschuler in der Birckenseher \ Schule. Geschr. d. 25^ten May 1780.
Habe deine Lust am \ Herrn, der wird dir \ geben Was dein hertz \ wünscht.
 

Translation:

This writing exercise booklet belongs to Abraham Landes, writing student in the Birkensee [Perkasie] School. Written on the 25th of May 1780.
Take pleasure in the Lord, he will give you what your heart desire.
 

Category: Bookplate (Bücherzeichen)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur is in the upper center of the document. It is surrounded by a frame of calligraphic spirals and flowers. To its lower left is an inkwell with feather, and to its lower right is a hand holding a feather. In the lower portion of the document is a town with houses and churches of different sizes. The entire document is framed by a decorative border. This bookplate belonged to a writing exercise booklet (Vorschriftenbüchlein), common in the Mennonite school system. See FLP 716v for the inside back cover with an example of a writing exercise.

Previously attributed to Jacob Oberholzter, now attributed to Johann Adam Eyer through comparison of handwriting and design motifs with signed examples.

Associated Names: Oberholtzer, Jacob
Provenance: Levi E. Yoder

Bibliography:

"Johann Adam Eyer" in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997), 2^nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 256-260.

Don S. Yoder, "Fraktur in Mennonite Culture," The Mennonite Quarterly Review 48, no. 3 (July 1974): 305-342; published as fig. 5.

Frederick S. Weiser, “I A E S D: The Story of Johann Adam Eyer, Schoolmaster and Fraktur Artist,” in Ebbes fer Alle-Ebber, Ebbes fer Dich: Something for Everyone—Something for You (Breinigsville, Pa.: The Pennsylvania German Society, 1980).

Lisa Minardi, "Quill & Brush: An Introduction to Pennsylvania German Fraktur," in Framing Fraktur: Pennsylvania German Material Culture & Contemporary Art, ed. Judith Tannenbaum (Philadelphia: Free Library of Philadelphia, 2015), published on p. 24 as fig. 10.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on inscription on document
Region/County:Bucks
City/Town/Township:Perkasie School, Hilltown Township
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Image Dimensions Width: 21.2 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 716
Creator Name: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Decorator
[Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Scrivener