Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 482
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein. \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: \ Jakob Optigraf und seiner ehelichen \ Hausfrau Elisabeth eine gebohrne Schäfer \ ist ein Sohn zur Welt gebohren, den 18ten Tag \ im Januar im Jahr unsers Herrn, 1823 Dieser \ Sohn ist gebohren in Exeter Taunschip \ in Berks Caunty, im Staate Pennsylvanien \ in Nord=America; und erhielt durch die Heil. Taufe den Namen \ William den [blank] Tag [blank] \ im Jahr 1823 von dem Ehrw. Hrn. Pf. Conrad Müller \ Die Tauf=Zeugen waren: die Eltern des \ Kindes selber.

[In upper left]
Wann wir kaum geboren werden, \ Ist, vom ersten Lebenstritt, \ Bis zum kühlen Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein kurzgemeß’ner Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet uns’re Kraft zurück. \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Allzureif zur Todtenbahre.

[in upper right]
Und 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 center, in two columns]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh’ im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf, mit meinem Gott! \ So sprech’ ich stets mit frohem Munde, \ in Kreuz, in Trübsal, Angst u. Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, des freu’ ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich.

Ich bin getauft, ob ich gleich sterbe, \ Was schadet mir das kühle Grab? \ Ich weiß mein Vaterland und Erbe, \ Das ich bey Gott im Himmel hab’, \ Nach meinem Tod ist mir bereit \ Des Himmels Freud’ und Feierkleid.

[In lower center]
Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heiliger Geist! \ Ich bin gezählt zu deinem Saamen, \ Zum Volk, das Dir geheiligt heißt! \ O! welch’ ein Glück ward dadurch mein! \ Herr, laß mich deßen würdig seyn!

Reading, \ Gedruckt und zu haben bey \ Johann Ritter. 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Jacob Oprigraf and his lawful wife Elisabeth, a born Schäfer, a son was born into the world, on the 18th day of January in the year of our Lord 1823. This son was born in Exeter Township, in Berks County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and received through the holy baptism the name William on the [blank] day of [blank] in the year 1823 from the honorable Mr. Pastor Conrad Müller. The sponsors were the parents of the child themselves.

[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. O! 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 center, in two columns]
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, 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.

[in lower center]
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!

Printed and to be had from John Ritter and Comp.
 

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

Hand-lettered, hand-colored, printed form. The central text in Fraktur with blanks infilled by hand is in a rectangular frame in the center of the document. Three verses are below it. The main text is flanked by two large angels with lyres; one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A putto, with a trumpet and a letter, lounges on clouds in the upper center. A cluster of musical instruments, including a trumpet and harp, as well as music and wreaths are below the main text. Beneath the two verses in the center are a bushel of wheat, a cornucopia, and leaves of grass that are colored like a flower. Two verses are in frames in the upper corners. In each of the lower corners are two birds perched on a leafy branch. 

Associated Names: Schäfer, Elisabeth
Provenance: Scott Francis Brenner

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 191.

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

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. 1827
Image Dimensions Width: 41.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1006
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Johann Ritter (1779-1851) - Printer/Publisher