Lancaster County, PA "Vorschrifft" fragment
Updated August 26, 2026
| Lot number | 632 |
| Auction | September Cataloged Antique Auction |
| Date | September 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT |
| Auction house | Horst Auctioneers |
| Location | Ephrata, Pennsylvania |
ca. mid 18th-early 19th century; Rare, German-French "Assimilation Period" Fraktur writing sample "Vorschrifft" by Jean Bernard (schoolmaster in Lampeter Twp., Lancaster Co., PA). It is believed that Bernhard may have been a French Huegenot living in the area with the better known LeFever and Ferree families within Lampeter Twp. The fragment is ink on screen-laid paper headed with German "133 - Psalms of the King David" with a secondary Latin heading "Blessed be the Name of the Lord". The first half sheet is German scripture from Psalms 133, followed by two lines of an alphabet sample. The lower half appears to be French scriptural "Lord's Prayer" from Matthew 6:9-13, again followed by two-lines of alphabet. The lowest portion includes the last name Rohrer, Lampeter Twp., Lancaster Co. PA along with the maker’s name. Although this "Vorschrifft" is only a fragment it possibly is a fine historical example of the "Assimilation Period" for the primarily French settlers into the German speaking community; frame 15 3/4" x 11"; Condition: Significant paper loss in both lower corners and small portion in upper right corner.
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