A book titled “Peter Montelius: Teacher and Printer, Printer and Teacher,” featuring broadsides and printed materials of Peter Montelius (1791-1859), is now available. Peter Montelius is known for printing a variety of German-language broadsides, many of which have graphic images. He taught and printed in Reamstown, Lancaster County, Pa., from about 1810 to 1813 and again from 1818 to 1823, after which time he moved to Union County until 1830 and then to Northumberland County, where he lived the remainder of his life.
Although most of Montelius’ print work was created in Northumberland County, it was during his experimental years while in Reamstown where his broadsides show the most variety and charm. His works suggest he was printing for classroom instruction rather than as a commercial printer. Consequently, most editions of his broadsides are rare, for the numbers he printed of any single edition were limited.
The 241-page softcover “Peter Montelius: Teacher and Printer, Printer and Teacher” illustrates in black and white 88 examples of Montelius broadsides or broadsides that according to oral tradition have been attributed to him or show his influence in design. Also included are seven broadsides printed by Peter’s sons, Timothy and Marcus.
“Peter Montelius: Teacher and Printer, Printer and Teacher,” authored by Patricia Earnest Suter, is available from Russell D. Earnest Associates, P.O. Box 1132, Clayton, DE 19938.
The cost per book is $39.95, plus $5 shipping.
Readers are invited to visit www.earnestarchivesandlibrary.com in which the Earnests publish a free quarterly newsletter concerning Pennsylvania German broadsides and fraktur.