Within a twisted foliate border is a central block depicting Adam & Eve flanking a tree with a serpent wound around the trunk offering Eve an apple. This is an engraving executed by Gabriel Miesse of Reading; his name appears at lower right followed by "sc" for "sculpsit", indicating the engraver. Two columns of verse flank the central block, telling the story of "the Fall" in conversational form. At top of broadside is the title in German: "Adam und Eva im Paradies." A subtitle reads: "Mel. Herzlich thut mich Verlangen, etc."
At bottom is: "Gedruckt in der Druckerey des Adlers von H.W. Villee, Lancaster, Pa. allwo alle Sorten Bilder, Bucher,/ Schriebmaterialien und Arzneyen zu haben find." This indicates the broadside was printed in the Lancaster Eagle's printshop (a newspaper started by Villee and Jacob Baab on Oct. 26, 1826). Villee was also selling pictures, books, stationery and even medicines out of his shop on N. Queen St.
See biographical info about Villee from Klaus Stopp's book in this file. He was born in France, served as a captain under Napolean, had to leave France in 1815 and ended up in America in 1820. Villee entered the printing business by working at "the Eagle," a newspaper in Reading. Villee was not successful as a printer in Lancaster, and he left sometime in 1832 or soon after, going to places like Lewisburg, Sunbury and Milton. After moving to Northumberland Co. and becoming a teacher, he finally died in 1842.
The Earnests note that Adam & Eve were popular fraktur subjects, especially among German-language printers of SE PA. They note that there are only about a half dozen Adam & Eve broadsides by Villee known.
Exhibited in Fraktur Exhibit in Masonic Lodge circa 2004 through 2007 (removed spring 2008).
See also P.01.60.1 and P04.48 for examples of a Heaven & Hell broadside by Villee.
North Queen St., Lancaster (printer); Reading, PA (engraver). Villee, Herman W., printer; Gabriel Miesse, engraver; unknown colorist
Paper darkened and soiled overall, wrinkled with fold lines and rough-edged with minor tears and folds. Stains scattered over surface with darkest stains within right text above center. Small hole at center of top foliate border.
Frame is homemade of stained and varnished tiger maple. Acidic cardboard backboard replaced with acid free matboard.
Object ID
P.04.48.1
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene N. Walsh, Heritage Center Collection
Advertisement for the public sale of 8 tracts of land in Starsburg Township and Bart Township
Description
Advertisement for the public sale of 8 tracts of land.
Tract 1, 146 acres adjoining lands of John Brackbill, Jacob Neff, and others in Starsburg Twp.
Tract 2, 163 acres adjoining tract 2 in Strasburg Twp.
Tract 3, 76 acres adjoining Henry Brenneman in Strasburg Twp. Tract 4, 71 acres adjoining lands of John Rhoads, Henry Rohrer, in Strasburg Township along the road leading to Peach Bottom. Tract 5, 40 acres of woodland in Strasburg Township adjoining the land of Henry Brenneman and William Tweed.
Tract 6, 47 acres of woodland situated in Strasburg Township and Bart Township adjoining lands of Martin Pfoutz and Henry Brenneman Jr.
Tract 7, 77 acres of timberland situated in Bart Township adjoining lands of Abraham Leaman, Jacob Hartman and Jacob Neff.
Tract 8, on acre of land in Strasburg Township south of the borough of Strasburg. All tracts lands late of John Neff Sr. Christian Herr and Edward Coleman, assignees of John Neff Sr. 25 December 1829. Printed by Fenn & Fenton, Lancaster.
