1897.] MERCEK — SURVIVAL OF ILLUMINATIVE WRITING. 431 



Herrn Jesii Christi jy82 den jo. Jenner in Grossschwam Tatittschipy Bocks 

 Counti, Geboren, etc., giving name of minister, father, mother and witnesses. Pre- 

 sented by Mr. S. W. Boyer, of Spinnerstown, to the Bucks County Historical 

 Society. 



2. Leaflet, 15 inches long by I2j4 broad. Text in scalloped circle inscribed 

 with legend, Wer da glaubt und getauft wird, der wird selig werden. Wer ihn 

 nicht glaubt dcr wird verdamet tverden. The border is adorned with two large 

 flower stalks, a singing bird and a swan, and two gaudy flying female figures 

 with puffed hair and rosy cheeks, bearing flowers. Another singing bird adorns a 

 small circlet, and upon a heart is inscribed the motto, Dis Herz mem soli dir 

 allein O lieber Jesit sein. The baptismal inscription is in plain black Gothic text, 

 Diese beide Ehegatten ah Joha^ines Erdman ti7id Seine Ehefrau Sara, Eine 

 Geborene Pitzin, Lutherische Religion, ist Einen So/in Zur Welt Geboren als 

 Heinrich, ist Geboren im Jahr Unseres Herrn Jesii Christi Jygs d. 2g. Jany 

 um 6 Uhr Abends in Saccon Taunschip Northhampton Counti im Staat Pensyl- 

 vanien, giving name of pastor and of witnesses. Colors red, brown, green and yel- 

 ow. In possession of the Bucks County Historical Society. Given by Oliver H. 

 Erdman, Steinsburg, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. 



3 and 4. Two leaflets in style like the above. Certificates of Peter Floers, 

 1792, and Elizabeth Wetzel, 1804. Flying woman, birds, swans and hearts^ 

 floridly executed a«: above. On one of the hearts is the legend, Dis Herz mein 

 soil dir allein O lieber Jesti sein. In possession of Philip Flores, Dillingersville. 



5. Leaflet about 15 inches long by 12 wide, containing text in an ornamented 

 square, with heavy border adorned with conventional flowers and tulips, and four 

 hearts containing legends (see Plate IX). Colors brown, red, yellow, green and 

 blue. A certificate in black German Gothic text, translated, says that " Samuel 

 Roeder was born of Christian and married parents in Herford township, Berks 

 county, in Pennsylvania, on May 8, in the year 1779, and was given his Christian 

 name by the minister, Theobold Sahwer, in the Christian Church in Nugoschen- 

 hoben," giving witnesses, etc. Deposited in the Museum of the Bucks County 

 Historical Society by Nathan Roeder, of Spinnerstown, Bucks county, Pennsyl- 

 vania. 



Tlie marriage and death registers in Bibles are plainly executed 

 as compared with the other specimens, and it seems that the prac- 

 tice of engrossing these latter lasted much later than the other 

 phases of the art, and still continues (1897) among German fami- 

 lies in upper Bucks county. More than two colors, red or purple 

 and black, are rarely used. The elaborate scrolling, the leaves, 

 hearts, birds and tulips, have disappeared. Examples are: 



1. Register bound in Lutheran Bible of Mrs. Levi Garner, of Doylestown. 



2. Similar register, in purple ink, made about 1890, in Bible of Mr. Elmer 

 E. Funk, of Doylestown. 



3. Loose register from Bible of the Hendricks' family near Perkasie, showing, 

 late survival of the tulip design. Words, Sarah Hendricks ist geboren den iten 

 September im Jahr 1S51. Capitals decorated in inferior style with leaves and 



