RAREST LANCASTER CO.MENNONITE-PA.GERMAN SAMPLER BOOK IMP.HOUSE w/EAGLE GROUP-SAYS DONEGAL TWP-pg 259 IN BOOK Start Price USD 149.50 Current Price USD 2,940.00 Time Left - Bid Count 15 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, December 02, 2008 End Time Tuesday, December 09, 2008 Location Los Gatos, California See more about 'RAREST LANCASTER CO.MENNONITE-PA.GERMAN SAMPLER BOOK ' Description Advanced collectors will instantly recognize this extremely rare and important Lancaster Co. Mennonite schoolgirl sampler ,from the distinctive "BRICK HOUSE-FLYING EAGLE" group chronicled in the book :"SAMPLERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS (pg 259)",by TANDY AND HERSCH! This is the ONLY OTHER sampler,outside of the Landis family example in the book,that I have seen in 25 years of collecting from this group;considered the most visual of all the Pa.German school types......This spectacular sampler descended  in the GARBER(Gerber) family of East Donegal Township in Lancaster(together with another Pa. Germansampler I will be listing Wed.), whose founding settler was the famed (Hans)Christian Gerber from the Alsace region;retaining  its original frame with very wavy glass,and pine backboard bearing the sampler's impression.THE SAMPLERMAKER NAMES HER TOWN IN THE INSCRIPTION,A PRIZE FOR SERIOUS COLLECTORS,COMPLETE WITH THE OLD PA.GERMAN PHOENETIC SPELLING,... "ANNA GARBER IS MY NAME DONEGAL TOUNSHIP IS MY TWELLING PLACE"!! She signs her name again at the end of her inscription "ANNY GARBER"; included in silkwork above the inscription,the script names of her aunt and uncle at top.....Jacob GARBER and his wife Barbara,who possibly could have run a school.       According to provenance Anna was born in Lancaster Co. October 22,1829 to Jonas Garber(Gerber)  and Catharine Gamber,and married John Stehman in January of 1849.Her great grandfather Jacob Gerber(Garber) was born in Hempfield Township in 1728,but deed records show that in 1770 he bought his brother Michael's land in Donegal Township,and by 1778 had moved there permanently.He was the son of Hans Christian Gerber,the founding immigrant who came to America in the early 1700s on THE GOOD SHIP "CHARMING NANCY".         IN ADDITION TO THE ABSOLUTELY IDENTICAL LOWER PICTORIAL SCENE WITH BIRD TOPPED BRICK HOUSE AND STYLIZED PINE  TREES(mine has a goose under the right pine),Anna's sampler shares many other distinctive elements that are identical to the Landis sampler on page 259......the stylized outstretched American eagle,unusual oak tree shading a pair of keys,8 pointed stars in the corners,dianthus flower urns,and more.The same pair of large stylized pines and distinctive oak,along with the exact wreath enclosure (fig 3-63,pg 106)  show up on in the 1820s on Lancaster County  samplers from RUTH REDMAN'S SCHOOL IN STRASBURG TOWNSHIP(see "SAMPLERS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA GERMANS;pg 61)".The rectangular cartouche contains the full inscription ,with a twist on a  traditional American schoolgirl verse;"ANNA  GARBER IS MY NAME DONEGAL TOUNSHIP IS MY TWELLING PLACE HEAVEN IS MY STATION CHRIST IS MY SALVASION THE ROSE IS RED THE LEAVES ARE GREEN THE DAYS ARE PAST WHICH I HAVE SEEN AND WHEN I AM DEAD AND IN MY GRAVE AND ALL MY BONES ARE ROTTEN REMEMBER ME WHEN THIS YOU SEE LET ALL THE REST FORGOTTEN  ANNY GARBER MADE THIS SAMPLER IN THE YER 1842".         The sampler is in extremely fine condition with strong contrast,and had been conserved on acid free board in its original mahogany veneer frame(22x21) ;the pine backboard showing the impression of the sampler format and family genealogical info packet are included. From this rarest of rare,highly recognizeable Lancaster Co. Mennonite group,this is a chance to own the only other example that may ever be seen,or offered for public sale.....a treasure for the all advanced collectors who love the most significant  PA. house samplers with provenance.  (See Steve and Carol Huber's book"How To Compare and Value Samplers" pg 151 for another important,comparable Pa.brick house sampler... I will try to add more photos as soon as the weather clears)          Place a Bid!