Item Info

Scripts/Text: Roman print; Roman script
Language: English
Weiser Number: 491
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; ink
Transcription:

CERTIFICATE \ OF BIRTH AND CHRISTENING. \ TO these two Parents, as Conrad Brenicy \ and his Wife, Elizabeth a born Fresher \ was born a Son in the Year of our Lord \ 1820 the 14 Day of January \ This Child was baptized by the Revd. M^r Filbert \ and received the Name of Israel Brenicy \ Witness present to the holy act of Baptism Conrad Bren \ icy \ in the State of Pensylvania Cocalico township Lancast \ County

[in upper left]
Descend, celestial dove, \ And make thy presence known, \ Reveal our Saviour’s love \ And seal us for thine own; \ Unbless’d by thy our works are vain, \ Nor can we e’er acceptance gain.

[in upper right]
When, our incarnate God, \ The sovereign prince of light, \ In Jordan’s swelling flood \ Receiv’d the holy rite; \ In open view, the form came down, \ And dove-like flew, the King to crown.

[in lower center]
An inward Baptism of pure fire, \ Wherewith to be baptiz’d I have: \ Tis all my longing soul’s desire, \ This, only this my soul can save.

Strait’ned I am, till be done, \ Kindle in me the living flame, \ Father in me reveal thy son \ Baptize me in Jesus’ Name.

Reading, \ printed by Henry B. Sage.

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

Hand-lettered; printed. The central text in Roman print, with blanks infilled in Roman script, is within a frame in the center of the document. Two verses within rectangular frames are in the upper corners. Two verses within frames are on the lower sides, and one verse within a frame is in the lower center. The main text is flanked by two large inward-facing angels with lyres, one holding flowers and the other with a bird. A framed image of Jesus’s baptism is in the upper center. The image depicts Jesus standing in the river Jordan. To his left are trees and other plants on the banks of the river, and to his right is John the Baptist, standing on land and pouring water on Jesus. In each of the lower corners of the document is a bird perched on a leafy and thorny branch. In the lower center is an image of a female statue under a colonnaded dome. The entire document is framed by a decorative border.

Associated Names: Sage, Henry B.
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 264.

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

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1820
Image Dimensions Width: 41 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 149
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Heinrich B. Sage (active c. 1811-c. 1826) - Printer/Publisher