Item Info

Scripts/Text: German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 933
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper
Transcription:

In dieses Fisches namen will \ Ich nun heben an, ihr Leute an \ zusammen, thut bey mir stehn, hört an das Große Wunder \ so geschejen dieses Jahr, zu Wasser und Landen das ist Gewislich Wahr 2. Erstlich will ich \ Anzeigen, Von genf der schönen stadt Alda den zwolften february, ein Fisch Mann gefangen \ Ihn gefangen hat, 3 drey Elen hoch er gewesen, worzu fünf Elen Lang, Jeder Mann thut sich verwundern, \Wer ihn thut schauen an, der Fisch der thäte haben, ein Rechtes Menschen Haupt, ein Jeder thät Erschrecken, Wer diesen \ Fisch an schaut.
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T T U V W X Y Z tz sch ft
a a b b c d e f ft g h i j k l m n o p q r s st s t u v w x y z tz ck sch fi fl ft ß \ a

Translation:

In this fish’s name I now begin; you people all together, stand by me, hear about this great miracle that happened this year on water and on land. This is certainly true. 2. First I will describe Geneva, the beautiful city, where on the 12^th of February a fish was caught by man. 3. Three ells high, it was, and also five ells long. Everyone wondered who looked at it. The fish had a true human head. Everyone was shocked who looked at the fish.
A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T T U V W X Y Z tz sch ft
a a b b c d e f ft g h i j k l m n o p q r s st s t u v w x y z tz ck sch fi fl ft ß a

Category: Wonderfish (Wunderfisch)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in German script extends across the lower two thirds of the document. At the upper left is a drawing of the Wonderfish and the “wonderful man,” as described in similar stories of the event. The Wonderfish has a human head with a fish-shaped body. It carries on it two war flags, three skulls, three rifles and a sword. On its back it carries a cannon and a pot of flowers. On its head is a crown. It has the feet of a swan. Next to it is a smaller and upright fish with a human head and arms, carrying a sword and surrounded by various flowers, including a tulip.
The Wunderfisch was a popular broadside subject and was frequently copied by fraktur artists as well. For another example with more complete text, see FLP 316.

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. 1840
Image Dimensions Width: 19.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 317
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener