1874 Fredericksburg TX German Hofacker Sermon Book Durst Letter Archive # 2500

Offered is an antique German-language religious and family archive associated with Fredericksburg, Texas. The main item is Ludwig Hofacker’s Predigten, a German sermon book published in Philadelphia by Schäfer & Koradi. The book contains an early handwritten Fredericksburg inscription dated December 25, 1874. Also included are several original items that were found stored inside the book: * Two-sided handwritten German letter headed Fredericksburg, Texas, October 12, apparently addressed to members of the Ahrens family and signed H. Durst * German-language newspaper clipping featuring “Die neue katholische Kirche” (“The New Catholic Church”) * Unused German-language John A. Smith Co. order form advertising Gloria patent medicines * Original 1969 funeral notice for Henry J. Durst of Fredericksburg, Texas Together, these pieces form an interesting German-Texan family archive spanning approximately the late 19th through mid-20th centuries. The Durst and Ahrens names, Fredericksburg inscription, German correspondence and local printed material give the group strong genealogical and regional-history interest. Condition: The sermon book is heavily worn, with extensive rubbing, leather loss, edge wear, staining, foxing and weakened binding. The handwritten letter has fading, fold wear, stains, edge losses and small tears. The newspaper clipping has folds, toning, tears and minor paper loss. Other ephemera show age-related toning and handling wear. Please review all photographs carefully for the complete condition. All items shown are included and will be kept together as one archive. The handwritten letter has not been professionally translated, and the exact year of the letter is unknown.