Very Rare Metamorphosis BookletPennsylvaniaEarly 19th Century
Comprising four watercolor metamorphosis drawings accompanied by storytelling verse, likely done by a young child. The first metamorphosis depicting the genesis of Adam, and then Eve, who transforms into a mermaid. The second, third, and fourth metamorphoses detailing a fantastical story and cautionary tale in which a lion transforms into a griffin, and then an eagle, which snatches a small child, who in turn survives and becomes a man consumed by fortune, is stricken by illness, and dies.
Height 3 3/4 in. by Width 3 in.Condition reportFor further information on the condition of this lot please contact americana@sothebys.com Catalogue notePerhaps serving as one of the first flips books, metamorphoses were an entertaining mode of early storytelling, in which parables and fables were told by flipping up or turning down flaps of paper to reveal morphing figures, and thereby captivating and teaching important moral lessons to the youth of many Pennsylvania German communities. The four metamorphosis booklets in the Kindig collection serve as a fascinating study of unwavering religious and cultural values portrayed through a wide range of artistic style and expression. Given that these hand-drawn booklets were based on printed prototypes, it is no surprise that the contents are essentially the same. Each booklet starts with a “turn up” depicting the genesis of Adam and Eve, who finally transforms into a mermaid, and further detailing the aforementioned lion to a griffin and man to skeleton fateful tale. The driving message for young children is to lead a moral life and choose God above wealth and vanities, as they will not save the soul at the time of Final Judgement.
This minuscule booklet was likely done by the youngest artist represented amongst the collection of four booklets. The story of the lion changing into the griffin here charmingly shows a young artist’s clumsy, unplanned verse: The Lion rousing from his Den/ The Fields and Vallys for to Ren/ turn up the leaf within a giffin, he’s fully chang’d to a griffin. In comparison, the last booklet published by G.S. Peters in 1832 reads a fluid rhyming verse: A Lion rousing from his den, On purpose for to range, Is soon turned into another shape; Lift up and see how strange. In earnest, it appears that a young artist is attempting to recall the learned verse, and this could have been the first, not yet planned, series of the booklet made.
For a transcription of the metamorphosis, see below:
1. Here Adam comes upon the Age/ And Eve from at his side/ was gave to him in Marriage/ turn up & se[e] his BrideHere Eve in shape you do/ Behold one body shews the/ twain do but once more/ the leaf unfold & tis as/ Arange againFace/ Behold & se[e] the mermaids/ can ears forbid her song/ her features hath aluring/ Grace more pleasing is her Tongue2. The Lion rousing from his Den/ the Fields & Vallys for to Renol/ turn up the leaf within a griffin/ hes fully chang'd to a griffinA Griffin here you do behold/ Half beast half fowl to be/ do but once more the beast / unfold a frightful sight ,you se[e]Behold within the Eagles claws / this infant here doth Lye/ which he hath taken as a/ Prey with wings prepard3. Now I have Escap'd the Eagles/ claws I am from all Dangers/ Fre[e] I'll set my heart to gath/ gold turn Down the leaf & se[e]A heart here is oppresd/ with grief what salve can/ cure my pain do but once/ more lift up the leaf & you'l/ se[e] more PlainNow I have/ a purse of gold & Silver/ Store has Curd my heart/ I'm sick no more but am/ from cares & Dangers Free/ these worldly cares can trouble me4. Now I have gold & Silver so / re brib’d from the Rich pawnd/ from the poor what worldly/ cares can trouble me turn/ down the leaf & You’l se[e]Sickness comes on & death / Draws Nigh help gold & / Silver els[e] I Dye it will not/ Do for tis but Dross turn up & Se[e] mans life at lastO man now se[e] thou art but/ Dust your gold & silver is but / Rust thy time is come & glass/ is spent no worldly cares can / Death Prevent
Very Rare Metamorphosis BookletPennsylvaniaEarly 19th Century
Comprising four watercolor metamorphosis drawings accompanied by storytelling verse, likely done by a young child. The first metamorphosis depicting the genesis of Adam, and then Eve, who transforms into a mermaid. The second, third, and fourth metamorphoses detailing a fantastical story and cautionary tale in which a lion transforms into a griffin, and then an eagle, which snatches a small child, who in turn survives and becomes a man consumed by fortune, is stricken by illness, and dies.
Height 3 3/4 in. by Width 3 in.Condition reportFor further information on the condition of this lot please contact americana@sothebys.com Catalogue notePerhaps serving as one of the first flips books, metamorphoses were an entertaining mode of early storytelling, in which parables and fables were told by flipping up or turning down flaps of paper to reveal morphing figures, and thereby captivating and teaching important moral lessons to the youth of many Pennsylvania German communities. The four metamorphosis booklets in the Kindig collection serve as a fascinating study of unwavering religious and cultural values portrayed through a wide range of artistic style and expression. Given that these hand-drawn booklets were based on printed prototypes, it is no surprise that the contents are essentially the same. Each booklet starts with a “turn up” depicting the genesis of Adam and Eve, who finally transforms into a mermaid, and further detailing the aforementioned lion to a griffin and man to skeleton fateful tale. The driving message for young children is to lead a moral life and choose God above wealth and vanities, as they will not save the soul at the time of Final Judgement.
This minuscule booklet was likely done by the youngest artist represented amongst the collection of four booklets. The story of the lion changing into the griffin here charmingly shows a young artist’s clumsy, unplanned verse: The Lion rousing from his Den/ The Fields and Vallys for to Ren/ turn up the leaf within a giffin, he’s fully chang’d to a griffin. In comparison, the last booklet published by G.S. Peters in 1832 reads a fluid rhyming verse: A Lion rousing from his den, On purpose for to range, Is soon turned into another shape; Lift up and see how strange. In earnest, it appears that a young artist is attempting to recall the learned verse, and this could have been the first, not yet planned, series of the booklet made.
For a transcription of the metamorphosis, see below:
1. Here Adam comes upon the Age/ And Eve from at his side/ was gave to him in Marriage/ turn up & se[e] his BrideHere Eve in shape you do/ Behold one body shews the/ twain do but once more/ the leaf unfold & tis as/ Arange againFace/ Behold & se[e] the mermaids/ can ears forbid her song/ her features hath aluring/ Grace more pleasing is her Tongue2. The Lion rousing from his Den/ the Fields & Vallys for to Renol/ turn up the leaf within a griffin/ hes fully chang'd to a griffinA Griffin here you do behold/ Half beast half fowl to be/ do but once more the beast / unfold a frightful sight ,you se[e]Behold within the Eagles claws / this infant here doth Lye/ which he hath taken as a/ Prey with wings prepard3. Now I have Escap'd the Eagles/ claws I am from all Dangers/ Fre[e] I'll set my heart to gath/ gold turn Down the leaf & se[e]A heart here is oppresd/ with grief what salve can/ cure my pain do but once/ more lift up the leaf & you'l/ se[e] more PlainNow I have/ a purse of gold & Silver/ Store has Curd my heart/ I'm sick no more but am/ from cares & Dangers Free/ these worldly cares can trouble me4. Now I have gold & Silver so / re brib’d from the Rich pawnd/ from the poor what worldly/ cares can trouble me turn/ down the leaf & You’l se[e]Sickness comes on & death / Draws Nigh help gold & / Silver els[e] I Dye it will not/ Do for tis but Dross turn up & Se[e] mans life at lastO man now se[e] thou art but/ Dust your gold & silver is but / Rust thy time is come & glass/ is spent no worldly cares can / Death Prevent
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