Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 966
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: Britannia in a circle, surmounted by a crown watermark
Transcription:

Gedencke \ an deinen Schopfer in Deiner Jugend Ehe \ dann die bosen Tage kommen und die Jahre herzu Tretten da du \ wirst sagen Sie gefallen mir Nicht Prediger Salomom Cap 12 V 1 \
Jndem das Alte geht vorbey, so werden Alle dinge Neu, Was vorhin verdorben \ war, das wird nunmehr verneuet Gar. 2 Nur, Eines Geht Allein andern vor, das ist \ die neue Creatur, wo die im Wesen wird Erkannt, da ist der auserwählte stand. 3 Es \ kommt zwar offt das neue Jahr, doch ist das Neue leben Rar. Was hilfft, daß man viel wünschen \ tut, da man so ger[n] in sünden Ruht 4 Was ist des Sünders Neu=Jahresdank, ein hertz voll Sünden \ und Gestank, er stimmet auch ein lob= lied an, und hat doch niemahl büß gethan 5 die Menschen \ Opfern dampf und Rauch offt in der Luft nach ihrem brauch man zündet die Canonen loß, die \ Pulver lust ist stark und gros 6 Soll das Geprassel und Geknall, das man dann machet überall aus büchsen \ flinten Gros und klein ein Angenemes opfer sein, A a b c d e f ff g h i k l ll m n o p q r s ss s t u v \ A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ch

Translation:

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them. Ecclesiastes 12:1.
Just as the old passes away, so all things become new. What was earlier spoiled is now completely renewed.
2. Only one thing alone precedes the others, that is the new creature. Where it in substance is known, there is the place of the chosen.
3. The new year comes very often, but the new life is very rare. What does it help that one wishes much since one so gladly rests in sin?
4. What are the sinner’s new year’s thanks, a heart filled with sins and smell. He starts a song of praise and yet has never done repentance.
5. The people sacrifice steam and smoke often in the air according to their custom; One lights the cannon, the pleasure in powder is strong and great.
6. Shall the crackling and banging that one then makes everywhere from shotguns and rifles big and small be a pleasing sacrifice?
A a b c d e f ff g h i k l ll m n o p q r s ss s t u v A B C D E F G H J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ch

Category: Writing Exercise (Vorschrift)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text, with the first four lines in Fraktur and the remainder in German script, extends across the entire document. The first letter is displayed in particularly prominent and decorated calligraphy. The areas next to and above the first word, which is especially prominent, is decorated with a variety of flowers. The main body of the text is framed by a decorative border. In the lower left corner is a bird on top of a calligraphic scroll.
Eyer was a Lutheran schoolmaster who taught in the Mennonite schools of Bucks, Chester, Lancaster, and Northampton counties. Many fraktur artists were influenced by his work. This piece is attributed to Eyer himself based on comparison of the handwriting and design motifs, but numerous artists closely copied Eyer’s fraktur as well.

Associated Names: Eyer, Johann Adam
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Creation Place State/Province: Creation Place Note:Based on design characteristics
State/Province:[Pennsylvania]

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1810
Image Dimensions Width: 20.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 343
Creator Name: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Decorator
[Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Scrivener