Item No: frk00716

Title:
Bookplate (Bücherzeichen) for Abraham Landes

Category:
Bookplate (Bücherzeichen)

Creators:
Decorator: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)]
Scrivener: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)]

Creation Place:
Town/Township: Perkasie School, Hilltown Township
County: Bucks
State/Province: Pennsylvania
Note: Based on inscription on document

Creation Date: 5/25/1780

Physical Description: Leaf

Dimensions: 21.2 cm x 16.3 cm

Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink

Media Type: Manuscripts

Language: German

Scripts/Text: Fraktur

Associated Names: Eyer, Johann Adam; Landes, Abraham; Oberholtzer, Jacob

Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur is in the upper center of the document. It is surrounded by a frame of calligraphic spirals and flowers. To its lower left is an inkwell with feather, and to its lower right is a hand holding a feather. In the lower portion of the document is a town with houses and churches of different sizes. The entire document is framed by a decorative border. This bookplate belonged to a writing exercise booklet (Vorschriftenbüchlein), common in the Mennonite school system. See FLP 716v for the inside back cover with an example of a writing exercise.

Previously attributed to Jacob Oberholzter, now attributed to Johann Adam Eyer through comparison of handwriting and design motifs with signed examples.

Transcription:

Dieses \ Vorschriften-Büchlein \ gehöret \ Abraham Landes \ Schreibschuler in der Birckenseher \ Schule. Geschr. d. 25^ten May 1780.
Habe deine Lust am \ Herrn, der wird dir \ geben Was dein hertz \ wünscht.
 

Translation:

This writing exercise booklet belongs to Abraham Landes, writing student in the Birkensee [Perkasie] School. Written on the 25th of May 1780.
Take pleasure in the Lord, he will give you what your heart desire.
 

Provenance:
Levi E. Yoder

Bibliography:

"Johann Adam Eyer" in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997), 2^nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 256-260.

Don S. Yoder, "Fraktur in Mennonite Culture," The Mennonite Quarterly Review 48, no. 3 (July 1974): 305-342; published as fig. 5.

Frederick S. Weiser, “I A E S D: The Story of Johann Adam Eyer, Schoolmaster and Fraktur Artist,” in Ebbes fer Alle-Ebber, Ebbes fer Dich: Something for Everyone—Something for You (Breinigsville, Pa.: The Pennsylvania German Society, 1980).

Weiser Number: 186

Subjects:

• Architecture
• Calligraphy
• Feathers
• Flowers
• Hands
• Houses
• Inkstands
• Tulips

Source:
Rare Book Department