Fraktur is a birth & baptismal certificate (taufschein) for Johann Kupper, drawn, lettered and colored by hand on laid paper. Text block written with iron gall ink is centered in bottom half of the horizontal sheet of paper. Border on top and sides composed of fantastical flowers in yellow, red, black and green. Identical flowering plants fill each side of text, rising from a basket-like containers. Top has tulips and other flowers rising from wide and shallow baskets(?).
Text begins with "Johannes Kupper" in large fraktur-type letters followed by nine lines of German script regarding his birth in ?? Township, Dauphin County, 30 June 1797. Father was Johann Adam(?) Kupper and mother was Christina ?? Baptised 1 October 1797. The baptismal witnesses were Johannes Matter and his wife Elisabetha.
Mounted in a modern brown natural wood frame with white window mat. Kraft paper dust paper on back. Several puncture tears at left. In pencil at bottom right corner is "#9".
Size of certificate is approximate according to what is visible through the window mat. Size of frame is H: 11.25" W: 16.75"
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2017-06-12
Condition Notes
Colors are still vibrant. Foxing and other brown stains, especially along center vertical fold line (tape residue?). This fold line is almost entirely broken. Approximately 16 large holes are found on flowers where iron gall ink was concentrated. Some edges of holes are folded over. Additional breaks along some fold lines and elsewhere. A long tear extends downward about 1.25" from top edge near right corner.
In need of conservation.
Object ID
2003.076
Notes
Appraisal conducted by Pastor Fred. Weiser, 2 Sept 1988.
Johann Kupper (John Cooper) was born 1797 and died November 1883. He married Mary Miller (1798-1882) and both are buried in Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery in Rife, Dauphin County.
Johann was the son of John Adam Kupper (Cooper) and Christina Margaretta Schott Kupper. He was a farmer, living in Washington Twp. in northern Dauphin County, vicinity of Lykens and Elizabethville.
Confirmation of John Cooper is found in the Price Rominger Family Tree, Ancestry.com.
This is related to other Kupper family fraktur in this collection:
Fraktur is a heart form B&BC on horizontal wove paper recording birth of Johann Adam Kupper in German script. Large central heart has a scallop and sawtooth outer edge and text within. At top is "Johann Adam Kupper" followed by his birth 1 July 1759 and baptism by Pastor Lothar Stoewer, 5 Aug 1759. Godparents were Georg Ulrich and his sister. Parents were Georg Kupper and his wife Elisabeth, daughter of Michael Zimmerman.with later dates of 1777 and 1783. Johann was confirmed by Pastor Koebrecht 29 July 1783. A very unusual addition is the final sentence that records his marriage to Christina Margareta Schotten by Pastor Samuel Dubbener. Thus, this B&BC was done after the marriage.
Mounted in a white hinged window mat, secured at corners. Foamboard backing.
Outside of heart is a profusion of multicolored stylized flowers; flowers at sides grow out of a basket.
Good due to great color, but structurally the paper is fragile. There are 5 vertical breaks that appear to be mended w/ cellophane tape. Some tape stains visible. Various size holes in center of 5 flowers. All edges tattered, but especially bottom edge that has losses and folded edges. Surface appears to be soiled with light scattered stains.
Object ID
2017.999.11
Notes
Appraised 2 Oct 1988 by Rev. Fred Weiser and designated #7. It is related to the following Kupper family fraktur in this collection:
2003.076 Johannes
2004.749 Sara
2004.752 Allen
2017.999.11 Johann Adam Kupper 1788
This fraktur translated Oct. 2017 by Elsbeth Steffensen (friend of Mary Alice Wheeler & Andre Dominguez). See object file.
