Dauphin Co. eagle & ribbon design Fraktur
Updated August 26, 2026
| Lot number | 628 |
| Auction | September Cataloged Antique Auction |
| Date | September 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Horst Auctioneers |
| Location | Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
ca. dated 1807; Attributed to Karl Münch (active 1799-1831) a noted French Huguenot immigrant that became a schoolmaster in 1804, at Hoffman Church School in Lykens Valley, Dauphin Co. PA. He was noted for his high quality of artistic skills and use of a flowing ribbon through the headings of his works. This presentation/bookplate type fraktur is ink and watercolor on early screen-laid paper. The work has a vibrant colored eagle with outstretched wings clutching a ribbon in its beak and resting atop the letter heading. The work was done for Balthaser Matter of Upper Paxton Twp., Dauphin County, PA, dated 1807. The heading in fine flowing form with banded blue and yellow tones with blue ribbon intertwined through the letters, framed in a rosewood veneered frame; frame 10 3/4" x 9 1/4"; Condition: Overall excellent condition with minor crease along left edge. The piece is loose mounted into a rosewood veneer frame ****Note - Attributed by Russ & Patricia Earnest as possibly done by William Henry Muench (1799-1885) son of Karl Munch. William was a Schoolmaster/scrivener in Snyder and Northumberland County. It is possible the piece is a post-dated work. The first dated work attributed to William Muench is 1814.
