Item Info

Scripts/Text: cursive, decorated uncials
Language: French
Physical Description: 255 leaves
Material: laid paper, ink, and graphite pencil
Category: Devotional book (Andachtsbüchlein)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Fine manuscript on paper.

Binding: Gray linen on boards, green paste-paper endpapers, red leather spine label.

This prayer book has some similarities to earlier Books of Hours.  However, it also has parts of the Mass in it (not in Books of Hours). Johan Oosterman, a medieval manuscripts scholar at Radboud University Nijmegen, has a book like this in his personal collection that was handed down in his family.  

This book was meant to look like one that was printed via engraving.  Engravings at this time were often done in a cursive script, like this book.  However, it is undoubtedly a manuscript.

Notes are written on the front pastedown: 1730. Le Fever Family, Lancaster County, PA.

1730 Date on sarcophagus, page 253 name on last page

1741 Date on tombstone page 275.

The book is part of the "Pennsylvania German Manuscripts" collection but this is obviously a manuscript that belonged to a French family living in Lancaster County, PA, and a Catholic family at that.

Associated Names: le Fever, Marie Anne
Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1739
Image Dimensions Width: 22 cm
ShelfMark: FLP Borneman Ms. 109