Item Info

Creation Date: 4/12/1780
Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 845
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Harmonisches \ Melodeyen Büchlein \ über die Bekanteste Lieder im Mar= \ burger Gesang buch
Verfertigt vor \ Henrich Honsperger
Sing Schüler in der Birckenseher \ Schule. Geschrieben d. 12ten April \ Im Jahr unsers Herrn A. D. 1780
Lerne wie du kannst allein sin= \ ger buch und Tempel \ seyn.

[along sides]
Wer Etwas kan den hält man werth
Den Ungeschickten Niemand begehrt.
 

Translation:

Little harmonious melody book about the best known songs from the Marburg hymnal, made for Henrich Honsperger, singing student in the Birckensee School. Written the 12th of April in the year of our Lord A. D. 1780. Learn how you alone can be singer, book and temple.

[along sides]
Whoever can do something is considered of value. The unskilled one is desired by noone.
 

Category: Bookplate (Bücherzeichen)
Media Type: Manuscripts
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

N. B. See also FLP Borneman Ms. 22a.

Notes:

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered. The text in Fraktur and German script within a circle is in the center of the document. Two lines are written along the sides. The entire document is framed by a decorative border. This bookplate is in the tune book for which it was made.  (PA GER Borneman 22)

Attributed to schoolmaster Johann Adam Eyer.  Henrich Honsperger is listed in Eyer's roll book for 1780.  The first page of the tune book was recycled paper previously used for penmanship practice.  The bookplate is on the second page.  The tunes are numbered up to 73.  This is the earliest documented tune book made by Eyer.

Associated Names: Honsperger, Henrich
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.

Cory M. Amsler, ed., Bucks County Fraktur (Kutztown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1999); published as fig. 72.

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; published as fig. 2. 

Mary Jane Lederach Hershey, "The Notenbüchlein Tradition in Eastern Pennsylvania Mennonite Community Schools," in  Cory M. Amsler, ed., Bucks County Fraktur (Kutztown, Pa.: Pennsylvania German Society, 1999), p. 141. 

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on inscription on document
Region/County:Bucks
City/Town/Township:Perkasie School, Hilltown Township
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Image Dimensions Width: 10.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP B-13
Creator Name: [Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Decorator
[Johann Adam Eyer (1755-1837)] - Scrivener