German holy cards collection

Collection

Collection BC-2021-051: German holy cards collection

Staff Only

Dates

Creation: approximately 1650-approximately 1850

Scope and Contents

Collection of printed holy cards, largely of the eighteenth century, for German-speaking Catholics. Each card includes the name and feast day of a saint or spiritual event, an etched or engraved image of that saint or spiritual event, a brief devotional passage, and a summarized hagiography. Some cards appear in duplicate, others in multiple versions, with often significant overlap between versions (such as same text but different image, or same image but different text). Most of the holy cards in this collection include serial numbers, indicating they were part of a set distributed over time to the same group of people, possibly as part of instruction by a religious order. Iconography, particularly the frequent presence of IHS (ΙΗΣΟΥΣ) and MRA (Mediatrix, Auxiliatrix, Reparatrix) monograms, suggests a possible Jesuit connection, especially to Marian Congregations.

Language of Materials

Cards are predominantly in German, with some names in Latin. A few cards are entirely in Latin.

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

These materials are made available for use in research, teaching and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright Law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source. The original authors may retain copyright to the materials.

Historical note

Catholic holy cards developed out of Andachtsbilder, stylized devotional images similar to icons. Concurrent with the advent of printing technologies, especially woodcuts, and later, lithographs, and the increase of literacy among the laity, these cards were designed for broad distribution and personal devotional use. While artistic and production style varied over time and place, the basic format of holy cards has remained essentially the same: an image of a saint or holy event on the front, often with a short prayer, and a longer prayer or hagiography on the back. The cards were designed to be cheap, portable, and ephemeral, so they could be tucked into a pocket, wallet, book, or corner of a house. The oldest known holy card, dating to approximately 1425, depicts Saint Christopher and was distributed as a souvenir for visiting his shrine. As holy cards proliferated, they came to mark not only pilgrimages but also important events such as baptism or marriage, feast days, religious instruction, or devotion to a particular saint. Most of the holy cards in this collection include serial numbers, indicating they were part of a set distributed over time to the same group of people, possibly as part of instruction by a religious order.

Sources:

"Andactsbild", Wikipedia.de, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andachtsbild. Accessed January 10, 2023.

Calamari, Barbara, and Sandra DiPasqua, Holy Cards, New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2004.

Craughwell, Thomas J., "Trading holy cards since 1425", Our Sunday visitor, April 15, 2007.

Hourihane, Colum P., "Andachtsbild", The Grove Encyclopedia of Medieval Art and Architecture, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195395365.001.0001/acref-9780195395365-e-71.

Petruzzelli, James F., "Catholic Holy Cards: Visual, Verbal, and Tactile Codes for the (In)Visible", The other print tradition: essays on chapbooks, broadsides, and related ephemera, edited by Cathy Lynn Preston and Michael J. Preston, New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1995.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1 container)

Additional Description

Abstract

Collection of printed holy cards, largely of the eighteenth century, for German-speaking Catholics.

Arrangement

Cards are arranged alphabetically by saint's name. Cards commemorating events are arranged alphabetically according to the name of the associated saint (e.g. Conversion of Paul under "Paul").

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchased from Patrick Olson Rare Books, 2021.

Related Materials

Liturgy and Life Collection, BC.2013.017, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Norman Castle collection of holy cards, MS.2005.054, John J. Burns Library, Boston College.

Processing Information

The cards arrived from the vendor arranged in rough groupings by first letter of the saint's name. The archivist tidied up the alphabetization, including arranging within each letter, collating saints with different spellings of the same name, and correcting misreadings of letters.