Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: C B in shield
Transcription:

Sterblicher, du gehst vorbey, wo man mich hat hingele= \ get; schaue hier dein Conterfeit=mann, man dich zu Gra= \ be träget, meine Gruft ist dein Prophet, daß es dir wie \ mir ergeht.

Dieser \ Staub ist auch \ vorhin Fleisch und \ Bein, wie du gewesen; wie \ ich jetzund Asche bin, so wird \ man auch von dir lesen, man \ vergißt im Tode mein, so wird dein \ vergessen seyn: Heute mir, und morgen \ dir, du must endlich an den Reihen: darum stirb in \ Zeiten hier, so darfst du den Tod nicht scheuen, du \ hast keine Todesfrist; Mensch! bedencke wer du bist.

Das Ende krönt die Arbeit.
 

Translation:

Mortal, you pass by where I have been laid down. Look here at your likeness; you will be carried to your grave; my tomb is your prophet, that it shall go with you as with me.

This dust was also once flesh and bone like you. As I am now ashes so the same will be read about you. I have been forgotten in death, so you will be forgotten. Today me, tomorrow you, it must finally be your turn. Therefore die in time, you should not be afraid of death; you have no reprieve from death. Man, consider what you are.

The end crowns the labor.
 

Category: Religious Text
Media Type: Letterpress Prints
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; printed form. The main text in Fraktur is in the center of the document. It is flanked on each side by a bird and flowers. In the upper center is a printed border with a variety of flowers; this same border appears on other Ephrata works and is known as the "textile border."  Below the text are two parrots and a flower.

Associated Names: Otto, Henrich
Bibliography:

"Johann Henrich Otto"  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. 2, pp. 594-600.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop
Region/County:[Lancaster]
City/Town/Township:[Ephrata]
State/Province:[Pennsylvania]

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1785
Image Dimensions Width: 33.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1159
Creator Name: [Henrich Otto (c. 1733-c. 1799)] - Decorator
[Ephrata Cloister] - Printer/Publisher