Bookplate for Peter T.(?) Stauffer penned in purple lettering by Thomas H. Wall (active circa 1876-1898) on a detached end page of a book. Wove paper is light brown. The name arches at top of page with "1876" directly underneath. Embellished with filligree and other decorative flourishes.
Bound German New Testament with fraktur bookplate pasted inside front cover. The NT has a reddish-brown leather cover with two small leather and metal clasps attached to back cover.
Bookplate fills entire page of inside front cover, albeit sideways. Infill attributed to Cocalico Twp schoolmaster & fraktur artist/scrivener Samuel Bentz, it reads "Margaret Weidman/ her/ Testament." These words are intertwined with red and green vining tulips growing from a red base across the bottom.
The name "Andrew Weidman" is written on the last page of the NT.
Attributed to Samuel Bentz (2-26-1792 to 3-21-1850, active c. 1810-1848).
Provenance
The donors acquired this NT with bookplate at a farm sale in Cocalico Township, along with G.77.50.8 (Weydman fraktur). Given to LCHS with the understanding that it would become part of the Heritage Center Collection.
Bookplate has several tears around the edges and brown marks around the black and red areas of the design. The lettering has bled through the first two pages of the book.
A condition assessment and proposal for storage was made by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in 1986.
Numerous scratches and marks on the NT cover; significant crackling on the spine. The metal latches are rusted where they connect to the leather.
Object ID
G.77.50.5
Notes
See G.77.50.8 for Birth Certificate of brother Jacob Weydmann, born 1762.
See also Paul Flack Sale of Oct 2012 by Pook & Pook for Birth Certificate of sister Catharina, born 1768.
See Bentz entry in Papers for Birth Dayes, p. 90.
Place of Origin
Cocalico Twp.
Credit
Gift of Mr. & Mrs. Richard Flanders Smith, Heritage Center Collection
Bookplate on a page from a Martyrs Mirror, done in the style of Ephrata Cloister with a flowing hand using strong, bold letters. Letters are black with green and orange infill. Bookplate simply reads: "Carl/ Christo/ phel." One flower is at top right and a stylized pot with plant having 3 flowers is at lower left. Page is float-mounted in a window mat with a handmade cherry frame.
Ephrata Cloister, Lancaster Co.
Removed from Martyrs Mirror by a previous owner (Evelyn Good) due to water damage to the book which was then discarded. The opposing page was also saved and is mounted in Mylar on reverse side of frame. It carries a ghost image of the bookplate; string from binding is visible.
Acquired with typewritten inscription mounted on back of frame states: "BOOKPLATE MADE FOR CARL CHRISTOPHEL FOR/ HIS COPY OF THE EPHRATA MARTYR'S MIRROR-1748./ WORK OF SISTER ANASTASIA THE PEN-ARTIST OF THE CLOISTER ABC PATTERN BOOK OF LETTERS."
According to Clarke Hess, the penwork is by an unknown Ephrata Cloister artist. Clarke notes that Carl Christophel was a deacon at New Danville Mennonite Church in Conestoga Twp.(now Pequea Twp.) He died in 1767.
In Masonic Lodge Fraktur exhibit for several years. Removed circa 2008.
On short-term exhibit at Historical Society of Cocalico Valley, 2010.
Unknown Ephrata Cloister artist
Provenance
Dr. Robbins purchased framed pages from Evelyn Yingst Good's sale, Sat., May 11, 1991, lot #152, for $3,800. Evelyn Good was an Ephrata librarian. Valued at $5000, Robbins sold to museum for $2,500, donating the other half. Irene Walsh then reimbursed museum for the $2,500.
Acid burned edges are brown; soiled along outside edges; stains and foxing. Moisture stain at top left. Remains of binding still attached at left. Moisture staining at upper left corner. Two minor tears at top center, with ragged edges overall. Paper losses within black ink.
Conserved by Marilyn Kemp Weidner of Phila.
Object ID
P.98.52.1
Place of Origin
Ephrata
Credit
Acquired through the generosity of Irene Walsh and Dr. Warren Robbins, Heritage Center Collection
