Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 504
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein

[In central frame]
Den \ Ehegatten \ Heinrich Stettler \ und seiner Frau Elisabeth \ eine geborne Mohrin \ ist eine Tochter geboren worden, den 9 ten \ October im Jahr unsers Herrn 1820. \ Diese Tochter ist geboren in O. Macungie \ Taunschip in Lecha County, \ im Staat Pennsylvanien in \ Nord=Amerika, ist getauft worden und erhielt den Namen \ Salome \ den 5 Tag November im Jahr \ unsers Herrn 1820 von Herrn G. Wartman. \ Taufzeugen waren: \ Die Großmutter Barbara \ Stettler Wittwe.

Allentown, Pa. \ Gedruckt und zu haben bei Blumer, Busch und Co., \ 1849.

[in the eagle’s banner]
Gottes Friede sei mit dir and erhalte dich!

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren warden, \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein kurz gemeß’ner Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet uns’re Kraft zurück; \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Alle reif zur Todten= Bahre!

[in upper right]
O! wer weiß in welcher Stunde, \ Uns die letzte Stimme weckt; \ Denn Gott hat’s mit seinem Munde \ Keinem Menschen noch entdeckt! \ Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt \ Geht mit Freuden aus der Welt: \ Da die Sicherheit hingegen, \ Ewig’s Sterben kann erregen.

[In lower center]
Ich bin getauft! ich steh’ im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem Gott! \ So sprech’ ich stets mit frohem Munde, \ in Kreutz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft! des freu’ ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich!

Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott, Vater, Sohn und heil’ger Geist! \ Ich bin gezählt zu deinen Saamen, \ Zum Volk, das Dir geheiligt heißt. \ O! welch ein Glück ward dadurch mein, \ Herr, laß mich dessen würdig sein!

Ich bin getauft! ob ich gleich sterbe, \ Was schadet mir das kühle Grab? \ Ich weiß mein Vaterland und Erbe, \ Das ich bei Gott im Himmel hab: \ Nach meinem Tod ist mir bereit, \ Des Himmels Freud’ und Feier=Kleid!

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate
To the married people Heinrich Settler and his wife Elisabeth, a born Mohrin, a daughter was born the 9th October in the year of our Lord 1820. This daughter was born in U[pper] Macungie Township in Lehigh County, in the state of Pennsylvania in North America, was baptized and received the name Salome the 5 day November in the year of our Lord 1820 from Mister G. Wartman. Sponsors were: The grandmother Barbara Stettler, widow. 

Allentown, Pa. Printed and to be had from Blumer, Busch and Co. 1849.

[in the eagle’s banner]
God’s peace be with you and preserve you.

[in upper left]
Scarcely born into the world, it is only a short measured pace from the first step to the cool grave in the earth. Oh! with every moment
our strength diminishes, and with every year we grow more ripe for the bier.

[in upper right]
And who knows in what hour the final voice will awaken us, because God has not revealed this to anybody yet. Who tends to his house will depart from the world with joy. Because surety, in contrast, can provoke eternal death.

[in lower center]
I am baptized, I stand united with my God through my baptism. I therefore always speak joyfully in hardship, sadness, fear and need. I am baptized, that’s a joy for me. The joy lasts eternally.

I am baptized in your name, God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I am counted as one of your seeds, to a people that you blessed. O! What fortune for me; Lord, let me be worthy of it!

I am baptized! and when I die, how can the cool grave hurt me? I know my fatherland and legacy that I will have with God in Heaven. After death, Heaven’s garment of joy and celebration is prepared for me.

Category: Birth and Baptismal Certificate (Geburts und Taufschein)
Media Type: Letterpress Prints
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Hand-colored; hand-lettered, printed form. The central text printed in Fraktur with blanks infilled by hand is within a decorated rectangular frame in the center of the document. Two verses are in frames in the upper corners, and a third is within a frame in the lower center of the page. The main text is flanked by two large angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A spread-winged eagle holding a banner in its beak is in the upper center. In each lower corner are two birds perched on a tree with leaves and fruits. The entire page is enclosed within a decorative border.

Associated Names: Wartman, G.
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, p. 197.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:Upper Macungie Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Lehigh

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop
Region/County:Lehigh
City/Town/Township:Allentown
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1849
Image Dimensions Width: 43.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 137
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Victor Blumer (1809-1860) - Printer/Publisher
Charles Busch (1801-1884) - Printer/Publisher