Although few American illuminated fraktur text from this early period exist, a dated 1727 illuminated schoolmaster's lesson book from New Jersey in The Winterthur Library: Joseph H. Downs Rare Book and Manuscript Collection demonstrates that this form of decorated writing was practiced as early as the second quarter of the 18th century in America. Likewise, where numerous examples of more formal, European style writing exist, the paper size of the example illustrated here also supports an American origin.