Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 488
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, \ Als: Michael Scharb und seiner ehelichen Haus= \ frau Susanna eine geborne Oberle \ ist ein Sohn zur Welt geboren, den 4ten Tag November \ im Jahr unsers HErrn, 1820. Dieser Sohn ist geboren \ in Heidelberg Taunschip in Libanon Caunty im Staat \ Pennsylvenien in Nord=America, und ist getauft worden und erhielt \ den Namen Elias den 6ten Tag December \ im Jahr unsers HErrn 1820 von Hrn. Pfarer Bedes \ Die Taufzeugen waren Adam Scharb und seine Ehefrau

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

[in upper right]
O, wer weis, 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, \ Ewiges Sterben kann erregen.

[in lower left]
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 und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, des freu ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich.

[in lower right]
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 Feyer=Kleid.

[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 \ Heinrich B. Sage,

[on reverse]
Elias Sharp Died \ 22th July 1850 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Michael Scharb and his lawful wife Susanna, a born Oberle, a son was born into the world, on the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord 1820. This son was born in Heidelberg Township, in Lebanon County, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and was baptized and received the name Elias on the 6th day of December in the year of our Lord 1820 from Mr. Pastor Bedes. The sponsors were Adam Scharb and his wife.

[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.

[lower left]
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.

[lower right]
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.

[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!

Reading, printed and to be had from Heinrich B. Sage.

[on reverse]
Elias Sharp died 22th July 1850.
 

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 in Fraktur with blanks infilled in German 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 figure within a domed temple. The note on the reverse was added in English in Roman script. For related examples, see FLP 146, 149, and 270.

Associated Names: Sharp, Elias
Provenance: Raymond W. Albright

Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 267.

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

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. 1825
Image Dimensions Width: 41.7 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1007
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Heinrich B. Sage (active c. 1811-c. 1826) - Printer/Publisher