Nearly square printed fraktur mounted in a window mat and a modern flat black frame. This three-heart design made by Friedrich Krebs has his name "F. Krebs" printed at the bottom of the large central heart. Likely custom-printed in Reading at Adler's. Text within large heart is "Geburts- und TaufSchein." Standard main text has blanks infilled by Krebs. A daughter Elisabetha Miller was born 21 Feb 1809 in Cocalico Twp. to parents Peter Miller and wife Anna, born a M-caale(?). Daughter Elisabetha was baptised 14 May 1809 by Rev. Nuszky(?) and the sponsors were Peter Ellser and his wife Elisabetha. Smaller hearts below have religious verse.
Folksy decorations include coloring the heart border lines and adding many pasted-on cutouts, six of which are imprints of well dressed medieval people, two are pattern embossed paper urns/vases at bottom and two are small birds at top (right one missing). Extensive use of ink and watercolor to portray flowers, 4 suns/moons with faces and an unusual butterfly/moth drawing at top center. Borders of hearts are embellished with watercolors.
Printed in Reading, likely by Adler's Print Shop. Infilled and decorated in Cocalico Twp by Friederick Krebs (c. 1749 - c. 1815).
Fred Weiser, "The Mad, Lovable World of Friedrich Krebs," Der Reggeboge, 1988.Vol. 22, No. 2, pp. 49-88.
Alfred Shoemaker, "Notes on Frederich Krebs, The Noted Fractur Artist," The Pennsylvania Dutchman, Nov. 1, 1951, Vol. 3, No. 11.
Klaus Stopp, The Printed B&BC of the German Americans, Vol. 1, 1997, pp. 77-78 and pp. 140-144.
Height (cm)
31.75
Height (ft)
1.0416666667
Height (in)
12.5
Width (cm)
39.37
Width (ft)
1.2916666667
Width (in)
15.5
Dimension Details
Measurements are estimated based on what is visible in window mat.
Dimensions of frame are H: 15.375" W: 20.25"
Condition
Fair to Poor
Condition Date
2017-06-20
Condition Notes
Overall age yellowing with slight foxing. Multiple fold lines and other wrinkles. Large areas in right and left corners have heavy losses (holes), folded over edges and mending with cellophane tape adhered to back and staining the paper. Many pasted-on paper cutouts are detaching with folded-over edges. At least one cutout of bird is missing at top and perhaps additional missing cutouts where holes exist at upper corners. Abrasions on lower left cutout as well as some painted motifs.
Object ID
2017.999.8
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser in Sept. 1888. It was numbered # . See another B&BC by Krebs, 2017.999.28.
Johann Jacob Friederich Krebs was probably born April 3, 1749 and probably died in July 1815, according to Russ & Corinne Earnest's Papers for Birthdayes, pp. 460-467, He was active circa 1784-1812 in most counties of southeast PA and even New Jersey. He is considered the most prolific of all fraktur artists. He lived between Hummelstown and Harrisburg, Dauphin Co. and was a Schoolmaster in Swatara Twp.
He went through phases of decoration such as pasted-on cutout paper, stamped-on birds, his own freehand sketches, etc. He purchased large sheets of colored Augsburg brocade paper having Baroque decoration with pictures of Saints, animals and flowers. He cut out these figures to paste on fraktur as well as cut out his own shapes.
He used Adler's printshop in Reading for most of his printed B&BCs, often supplying the paper himself. He preferred 3-heart prints having no decoration, since he provided his own decoration.
A Peter Miller was a West Cocalico Twp. Supervisor in 1850 (Ellis & Evans, p. 722). The 1860 Atlas shows two "Pr. Miller" properties in East Cocalico Twp. just south of Knops Ridge. The 1869 Co. Directory lists 14 Millers in E. Cocalico, including a Peter Sr., a Peter Jr. and a Peter K. Miller, all in Reamstown or Swartzville.
Printed angel form B & BC in English for Harriet Miller born 7 Jan 1828 in Elizabeth Twp. to parents Peter Miller and wife Elisabeth, dau. of D. Buffenmeyer. Baptism performed by Rev. William Bates.
A variant of the standing angel form has a heavy medallion border enclosing entire page. Angels flank center text block titled "CERTIFICATE / OF / BIRTH & BAPTISM" bio info follows. with a center basket of flowers and religious verse below. At top is an eagle; at bottom center are three sprays of flowers over two baskets of flowers. Flanked by a pair of perching birds. Short verses found in two small bordered boxes at top corners.
Color decorated with yellow and red. At very bottom, below baskets is "Printed and for sale by G.S. Peters,---Harrisburg, Pa."
Infill Lancaster; printed Harrisburg
Provenance
Pencil inscription on back reads: "From Catherine D. Miller estate / Paoli, Pa".
Center nail hole at top has a tear up to edge with cellophane tape repair on back. Some ragged edges. Bottom edge has very dark brown stain and both corners have been torn off
Object ID
2004.751
Notes
Found in the list of the Fraktur Collection appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, Sept. 1988. Listed as Fraktur # 51.
This c. 1835 imprint by Gustav S. Peters of Harrisburg is a color-printed variant of the angel form and is numbered 378.3 in Klaus Stopp's "The Printed BBCs of the German Americans", vol. III, p.64.
Printed angel form B&BC in German is infilled and decorated for Susannah Miller, born 15 April 1835 in Dauphin County and baptized 15 June 1836 by William Findley. Parents were Peter Miller and wife Elizabeth nee Boffenmeyer. Baptism sponsor was "The Mother." Infill is in both German and English!
Main text block has two tailpieces and 4 lower stanzas. Imprint at bottom is "Reading, / Gedruckt und zu haben bey / Johann Ritter und Comp." (Printed circa 1828-1835). Angels, putto, birds and tailpieces all crudely paint decorated with a dense, dark red, areas of which are now crackled and raised above surface. Some minor use of a yellowish color.
Infill by unknown artist, likely in Dauphin County; Printed in Reading.
Two paper mends pasted to back at center of top and bottom; both are tears about 2.5" long. These areas are both buckled or wrinkled, particularly at top. Red paint is crackling and raised. Edges ragged, esp. right side. Moderate foxing. Heavy brown stains at upper corners, middle of sides and all along bottom where pasted.
Object ID
2004.739
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. Assigned #39. This B&BC is related to both 2004.738 and 2004.242, having the same surname of Bofemeyer/Bosemeyer.
Possible provenance info: Two pieces of mending paper pasted to back have printing. Lower one is letterhead printed with "John Hancock Mutual" and typescript below is" R. Norris / Box 154 / Sea Isle City, NJ". Upper paper has "
Unable to identify this edition in Klaus Stopp, B&BCs of the German Americans, Vol. 4. Upper tailpiece below main text was rarely used (see p. 164).
Printed 3-heart form B&BC in German, on laid paper, is infilled with red ink for Anna Bofenmeyer/Bosenmeyer, born 29 May 1805 in Warwick Twp. and baptized by Emanuel Schultz. Sponsors were Peter and Anna Miller. Parents were David Bofenmeyer/Bosenmeyer and wife Magdalena nee Conrad. This main text within large central heart has title "Tauf = Schein". Below main text is added: "Ich bin confermiert und das erste was zum Abendmahl gegangen." (I was confirmed and went to Holy Communion for the first time 26 May 1821). Below this text is a tailpiece of birds with spreading wings and below this is the imprint "EPHRATA: Gedruckt bey / Samuel Baumann." Two small hearts flank tip of large heart, with religious verse. Borders printed with 3 large sprays of flowers at top. Center of sides is rose blossom at left and 2 billing birds at right. At lower corners are birds perching on branch growing out of the small hearts. Running stagsat very bottom corners and two large leaves at bottom center. Strong, dark-printed border line at bottom supports stags and 2 leaves.
Klaus Stopp writes in B&BCs of the German Americans, on p. 216 of Vol. 2, that this paper carries a watermark of "B & JB" and a flying bird indicating Benjamin and Joseph B, sons of papermaker Christian Baumann (1755-1815). Clarence Spohn has evidence that these 2 sons rented the Ephrara papermill from 1816-1819. Since Samuel Baumann sold his business in 1816, this printed edition had to have been made in this year. Stopp numbers this B&BC edition #276 (p. 216) and lists among the examples, this Bofenmeyer fraktur.
Infill in Warwick Twp., unknown; Printed in Ephrata by Samuel Baumann.
Large, heavy liquid stains over most of surface. Fold lines are breaking or broken with holes and tears in numerous places, esp. the left half. Very ragged and folded over edges. Paper has high rag content and is very pliable.
Object ID
2004.742
Notes
Appraised by Rev. Fred Weiser, 2 Sept 1988. This fraktur designated #42.
This B&BC is related to 2004.738 and 2004.739 due to common surname.
