Amishland Kiehl Christian Newswanger 1954 SIGNED Both Authors Amish Pennsylvania For Sale

Amishland by Kiehl and Christian Newswanger. Published by Hastings House, New York, copyright 1954.

A particularly interesting signed association copy of this illustrated study of Amish life in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The book is personally inscribed and signed by both Kiehl Newswanger and Christian Newswanger, father-and-son authors and artists. The inscription is dated November 16, 1954, the year of publication, and includes the unusual reference to a recipient as their “fellow author (of ‘By Hex’).” This association inscription adds an appealing literary and Pennsylvania Dutch connection beyond that of a normally signed copy.

The Newswangers were descendants of a family that came to America from Canton Berne, Switzerland, in the early 1700s and settled in Lancaster County. According to the dust jacket biography, Kiehl studied art in the United States and Paris, including study with Fernand Léger, while Christian pursued extensive art training in the United States and Germany.

The book documents traditional Amish life through text and numerous drawings, paintings and etchings by the Newswangers. Subjects include Amish schools, farming, trades, food preparation, courtship, weddings, church, funerals and other aspects of everyday Lancaster County life. Many chapters incorporate Pennsylvania Dutch terminology alongside the English headings.

Contents include:

Foreword – p. 9
At School – p. 15
Yonnie Lapp Schoolboy – p. 21
Katie Glick Schoolgirl – p. 22
The Amish Carpenters – p. 25
The Butcher Jacob Glick – p. 28
Bread Baking, Katie Stoltzfus – p. 30
The Carpet Weaver – p. 32
The Cobbler Mose Beiler – p. 35
Horseshoeing – p. 37
The Carriage Maker – p. 38
Spring Plowing – p. 42
The Sower – p. 44
Hoeing Corn – p. 47
Hoeing Tobacco – p. 48
Spearing Tobacco – p. 50
In the Tobacco Stripping Room – p. 52
Corn Cutting at Snake Hill – p. 54
Dinner After Corn Cutting – p. 56
Gathering Potatoes – p. 59
Peach Picking – p. 62
Threshing at R. Amos Glick’s – p. 64
Milking – p. 66
Cleaning Out – p. 68
Chopping Wood at David Glick’s – p. 70
By the Meadow Stream – p. 72
Some of Our Amish Friends – pp. 74–81
Courting – p. 82
The Amish Wedding – p. 83
The Young Married Couple – p. 86
The New Baby – p. 89
Shopping in New Holland – p. 90
Quilting – p. 94
Cow Sale at New Holland – p. 96
The Farm Sale – p. 98
Apple Schnitzing – p. 102
The Sing – p. 104
The Fire – p. 107
Some Amishmen Go Abroad – p. 110
Church – p. 114
Foot Washing – p. 117
Home From Church – p. 118
The Amish Funeral – p. 122
The Amish: A Talk With David – p. 123

Hardcover with the original illustrated dust jacket, which retains the original $5.00 price on the front flap. Copyright page states 1954 by Hastings House with no later printing indicated.

An appealing 1954 signed association copy, especially desirable for collectors of Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch history, Lancaster County material, folk art and regional Americana.