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 plate print. Black line drawing of three women. 'Fashions for September 1831' at bottom. Picture is hand-watercolored. First woman wears a peach and white dress, off the shoulder, and a white and green hat with plumes. Second woman wears a green
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."
Broadside: Goods bought from a Philadelphia wholesaler by Henry F. Slaymaker who built a "railroad hotel" by the tracks of the Columbia-Philadelphia Railroad in Gap, 1832.
Broadside (mounted) Theatre, benefit and last appearence of Mr. Duff, August 30,1830.(note with broadside locates the theatre on site of 36 West Chestnut St. )
Print, New Theatre Performance of "Speed the Plough"
Description
The New Theatre is on South Queen Street in Lancaster. The poster cites the 7th performance of Mr. Henkins' Benefit of the comedy, Speed the Plough; and the farce, The Intrigue, of, Married Yesterday. Lists of actors (surnames, some given name initials) and roles they play also appear. Door open a 7:30 and "curtain rises at 8 o'clock precisely."
A finger points to : 'Officers are engaged who will preserve the strictest order;" and "No money received at the door."
Also, "NO LADY ADMITTED UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A GENTLEMAN."
"Tickets to be obtained at Mr. Osterloh's Book Store..."
Former mat torn from larger piece of cardboard and lower corner of poster is missing including some print. A piece on the upper right edge is also missing.
Object ID
2003.243
Notes
John Forney was printer for this poster. The best descriptons of John Forney are the 19th century praises penned by his colleagues.
"There were giants in his day, and he was one of them. None was more to be honored than the young Pennsylvanian who came from his Lancaster home to found and direct a policy which was to sway the nation..." (John Russell Young)
"He wielded one of the most fertile pens in the whole country. ...He is a tower of strength in the editorial profession, and his rare mental vigor and complete mastery of the pen, justly entitle him to be regarded and styled the journalistic Achilles of the Western Continent." (Alexander Harris)
"Col. Forney ...is one of the princes of American journalism. No editor in Pennsylvania has made a deeper impression on the public mind." (Philadelphia Record. )
"...he was the foremost editor of Pennsylvania." (Philadelphia Inquirer.)
"He belonged to a class of men who build themselves into the civilization of their times..." (John Thomas Scharf.)
"Personally, to me, he was always noble, gracious, conciliatory;" (Walt Whitman)
Image of Trinity Lutheran Church. 1800's. New brick facade, wrought iron grate/fence surrounding building's sides. Steeple now integrated with building's face.
Watercolored drawing on wove paper. Symmetrical design has a heart at bottom center with religious text. It reads: "Gottes brune/lein hat wasser / die Fulle Amen." (God's little well has an abundance of water). Growing out of the heart is a tall flowered stem extending to top of page. Top flower is a large tulip of yellow, red and blue. Large, confronting birds perch on small side branches terminating with small tulips. Birds have yellow bodies, blue wings and head, with red beaks and neck ring. Red and yellow carnations on side branching stems below. Heart is flanked at bottom by two birds with blue bodies, yellow wings and red heads. Mounted in an off-white window mat with two paper hinges at top. This is drawn by the same artist as 2017.999.18 and executed at the same time. Colors are the same.
Overall light brown age darkening. Several small brown stains; worst one is under top left bird. Very light creases/buckling across surface. Right edge is wavy. Upper left corner has crease where folded back.
Object ID
2017.999.17
Notes
Appraisal done by Pastor Fred Weiser on 2 Sept 1988. Marked fraktur #28 during this event.
