Presentation fraktur attributed to David Frey is a watercolored drawing of a bird on a tulip. Executed on a rectangular piece of tan wove paper, the watercolor is done in yellow, green, red, pink, blue, black and brown. The nicely detailed bird faces the viewer's right, perched on the bent stem of a tulip with one yellow bloom at tip: plant is growing out of the ground. Frame is softwood with a dark mahogany veneer on beveled face.
Inscribed in ink on reverse side in elegant script is "Catharina Frey. 1832." Seller believes this may be a daughter of David's son, Jacob Frey (b. 1785) and wife Elizabeth of Rapho Twp. Hess says Catharina is likely the younger sister of Anna (Nancy), recipient of drawing P.04.49.2.
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Sold by Mr. Clarke E. Hess of Lititz, PA, for $1.100. Mr. Hess purchased the drawing in Bucks County. (2004)
Very significant insect damage with tears at left edge extending inwards one inch toward wing tips; also two smaller holes below legs and on stem. Original damage appears to have occurred over liquid stain. Old repair on reverse using additional backing paper is now adhered only at bottom. The reverse side carries the residue of pigment missing from P.04.49.2, indicating that the two pieces of paper had been stored together for a long time. Minor flaking/losses of pigment. Minor soiling of paper. Replaced wood back with acid-free matboard.
Fashion print of lady's blue ball dress engraved for the Improved Series of Ladies Magazines . Woman wears white gloves, a white fur collar and hold a draped fur boa. In upper right, a view of lady's hairdo from the back of the head.
Two fashionably dressed women, one in blue opera dress standing and facing forward. The second woman in pink is seated with her back to the viewer. Mode de Paris appears at top of page.. Entire description below is in French. In pencil below: "10 Feb 1832."
Printed birth & baptismal certificate with infill & decoration by Francis D. Levan, made for the Werts family. Johanes Merts was born 17 Feb 1832 in Cocalico Twp. in Lancaster County and baptized 8 April 1833. He was the son of Jacob and Catharina Schweigart Werts.
Central text is in German with fraktur infill lettering. There is a border surrounding the text. On the top of the page is a cherub flanked by two boxes of text. Flanking the main text are two large angels. Below them on either side of the text are two branches, each with birds. Within the border, but below the main text is an open bible. Below this motif is an emblem with a lute and trumpet superimposed over music. The artist's signature follows, written as, "Francis D. Levane."
Moderate staining overall. Creases, especially at top and left side. Tear at bottom near center. Small loss on left side near top. Small tears and small area of soiling on lower left side. Paper is darkened at lower corners. Framed in archival materials in 2/2000 by Lancaster Galleries.
Object ID
P.00.9.1
Notes
According to Klaus Stopp, this printed form by Ritter was done c. 1843-44. Stopp uses the number 695 for this variant of the form. Papers for Birth Dayes give Levan's working dates as c. 1826-50.
Printed Birth & Baptismal Record, Christian Schelly
Description
Printed birth and baptismal certificate, pictorial fame with central text block. Infill and hand coloring attributed to Heinrich Keyser, a school mast working in Warwick Twp.
The pictorial frame consists of eight different plates around a perimeter. The four corners each have a Gospel reference withing a floral oval (two from St. Matthew and two from St. John). The other four prints depict scenes of Christ: is baptism, crucifixion, ascension and his welcoming the children to come to him. Prints are hand-colored.
The central text block is printed in German, in traditional form, under the title: "Geburts und TaufSchein." Infill is executed in black ink in both fraktur-style lettering and script.
Certificate was done for the birth and baptism of Christian Schelly, son of Johannes and Catarina Kericher Schelly, born Dec. 18, 1823 (?) in Rapho Twp. and baptized 1833. At bottom of text is written that Christian was born under the sign of Pisces, under which a tiny pen and ink drawing is executed of two fish. (Written by Wendell Zercher.)
(more info on Schoolmaster Keyser in file)
Provenance
From Strasburg Antique Marker, Strasburg, PA for $245.00. Received on Aug. 11, 2000.
Generally acid-burned overall; extreme burn at edges of top and left side. Two liquid stains in lower text block which bleached the paper. Heavy fold lines have resulted in tears. with a triangular loss at terminus of right fold line. Additional tears at end of left fold line as well as two inches above this; also tear along bottom edge, one inch from right corner. Entire piece is pasted to acidic cardboard backing.
Manuscript birth record for John Dunlap Skiles, scrivened, signed and date by William Knox. In handmade walnut frame with old glass and dust cover on reverse.
Done on thin white paper in horizontal format. Executed in black ink in a neat, flowing script is "John Dunlap Skiles,/ Born April 29th, 1829." Eight lines of religious verse follow in a smaller script. Below a double line at bottom is "Done by Wm Knox. April 8th, 1830." No ornamentation or color.
A Wm. Knox is found in Ellis & Evans (p. 79), listed as serving in Capt. Adam Diller's Co. in 1814-15. Note that various Knox families were living in Leacock Twp. at the time John D. Skiles was born and raised there.
(More notes in file.)
Written by Wendell Zercher.
Provenance
Provenance unknown: Per museum instructions, Kinsey Baker of The Book Haven purchased this item for us at Horst Auction Center, Sept. 3-4, 2004.
Slight foxing and staining with overall soiling; area of ragged paper loss at bottom right corner. Center vertical fold line appears to be broken along most of its length. Small tears around surface.
Birth certificate, polychrome on paper, done for the birth of John Bachman of Lampeter Twp. by Eli Haverstick.
Text is enclosed in a central arched arbor with flame finials. Text reads:
"John Bachman A son of Jacob Bachman and wife Barbara A daughter of Christian Kindig was born on the 10th Day of June in the year of our Lord 1832 In the Township of Lampeter in the County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania in North AMERICA.'
Supporting the arbor is a large double-compartmented rectangular base containing eight lines of religious verse.
At page bottom is an unusual temple-like structure, of Moorish or Middle Eastern appearance, flanked by blue trees and large multi-colored pinwheel flowers.
The borders of the page have colorful floral motifs aligned in a similar configuration as the central arbor. Hearts and stars fill the top corners. Above the central arbor is a stylized star/flower sprouting two flowers. Flanking the star are two trees growing horizontally toward the star.
Inscription on reverse, in tiny yellow script, is "Eli Haverstick."
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Lucy Bell Newlin Sellers of Phila., PA; and her brother, Wm. V.P. Newlin of Washington, D.C. in memory of their parents, Elizabeth and Mortimer Newlin. May 28, 1996, valued at $20,000.00.
Acid burn, soiling, including liquid stains, some crackled paint with minor losses (in black paint of arch of the central 'arbor' and in red motif at bottom right corner.
Conserved and reframed by Marilyn Kemp Weidner, Feb. 1997.
Object ID
G.96.09.01
Notes
Pictured on p. 64 of Corinne & Russell Earnests' book, Fraktur: Folk Art & Family.
3/4 profile bust portrait of "James Sproul of Octoraro . 1781 -1847 ." Subject's face towards viewer. See notes for additional information regarding date of gift and donor.
According to the "Papers Read Before the Lancaster County Historical Society, February 1, 1907, Minutes of the February meeting:
The following donations to the Society were announced by the Librarian: A large frame photograph of James Sproul, once a prominent citizen and iron master on the Octoraro Creek, below Christiana, donated by his grandson, Hon. W. C. Sproul, of Chester Pa.
The presentation of the Sproul portrait was made by Dr. J. W. Houston, who accompanied it by an address of considerable length, in which the career of Dr. Sproul was sketched, showing him to have been a man of mark in the earlier period of the county's history.
William Cameron Sproul (September 16, 1870 – March 21, 1928) was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. He also served as a state senator from 1896 until his election as governor in 1919.
