Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 525
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Maria Xander \ Ist Geboren in [blank] Taunschip Lancaster \ Caunty Im Jahr unsers Herrn 1813 \ den 10^ten Tag März im Zeichen [blank] \ Maria Xander thu ich mich schreibe \ an Gottes Wort hoffe ich zu \ bleiben und davon nicht zu lauf \ ab biß einer mich legt \ ins kühle \ Grab

[above tree]
Adam und Eva

[on foot of tree]
1824

Translation:

Maria Xander was born in [blank] Township, Lancaster County, in the year of our Lord 1813, the 10th day of March, in the sign of [blank]. Maria Xander I write my name. I hope to believe in God’s word and not to walk away from it until someone lays me in the cool grave.

[above tree]
Adam and Eve

[on foot of tree]
1824

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

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The main text in Fraktur and German script is within a heart in the lower part of the document. Above it are Adam and Eve before the fall. A tree with apples and two birds is between them. A snake is wrapped around its trunk. It is offering an apple to Eve who in turn is offering one to Adam. They are surrounded by various flowers. The entire document is enclosed by a decorative border.
The drawing is copied from popular Adam and Eve broadsides printed in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Associated Names: Xander, Maria
Bibliography:

Judith Tannenbaum, "Connecting Past to Present: Contemporary Artists with Links to Fraktur," in Framing Fraktur: Pennsylvania German Material Culture & Contemporary Art, ed. Judith Tannenbaum (Philadelphia: Free Library of Philadelphia, 2015), published on p. 82 as fig. 70. 

Creation Place County: Creation Place Note:Based on location of birth
Region/County:Lancaster
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1824
Image Dimensions Width: 32.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 323
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener