Christian Mertel(Dauphin and Lancaster Counties, Pennsylvania, active 1773-1802) - Taufschein, hand-drawn watercolor and ink on laid paper, done for Johannes Schupp, Paxton Township, Dauphin County, born 1771, with central panel enclosing German script over orange and green tulips arising from an elaborate circle with star in the center, all surrounded by an Angel Sophia, turreted castles, and blue, orange, and yellow birds perched on tulip vines, 12 1/2" x 15 1/2". For a nearly identical example, see the collection of Dr. and Mrs. Henry P. Deyerle, Sotheby's, May 1995, lot 429. For other examples, see Fraktur Writings or Illuminated Manuscripts) by Dr. Donald A. Shelley, plate 201; The Pennsylvania German Fraktur of the Free Library of Philadelphia, plate 310; and The Pennsylvania German Collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art by Beatrice Garvan, pg. 299.