Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 438
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: Levan
Transcription:

Elisabetha \ Wollfinger. \ Des Jacob Wollfinger und \ seiner Ehelichen Hauß=Frau=Anna \ Barbara Geborne Eyerin ist auf diese [text breaks off]

Translation:

Elisabetha Wollfinger, of Jacob Wollfinger and his lawful wife Anna Barbara, born Eyerin, was born into this [text breaks off].

Category: Birth Certificate (Geburtsschein)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur is in the center of the document. It is surrounded by eight stars that are linked by thin lines. Two flowers are on the sides. The text is unfinished. See FLP 377 for a completed version of this design. A series of numbers and monetary calculations are on the reverse.
Johann Adam Eyer never married, but probably was related to the mother, Anna Barbara Eyer, named on the certificate. Eyer taught school in Bucks County, followed by a brief period in Lancaster and then Chester Counties. From c. 1792-1800 he taught in Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. Around 1800, Eyer and other family members moved to Hamilton Township, Northampton County (now part of Monroe County), where he taught until c. 1820.

Associated Names: Wollfinger, Jacob
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

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.

Frederick S. Weiser, “IAE SD, the Story of Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837),” in Ebbes fer Alle-Ebber, Ebbes fer Dich (Breinigsville, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1980), pp. 437-506.

Lisa Minardi, "Quill & Brush: An Introduction to Pennsylvania German Fraktur," in Framing Fraktur: Pennsylvania German Material Culture & Contemporary Art, ed. Judith Tannenbaum (Philadelphia: Free Library of Philadelphia, 2015), published on p. 27 as fig. 12.

Creation Place County: Creation Place Note:Based on design characteristics and artist’s location
Region/County:[Bucks or Northampton]
State/Province:[Pennsylvania]

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1820
Image Dimensions Width: 25.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 376
Creator Name: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Decorator
[Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Scrivener