Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 512
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein. \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Friederich \ Krauß und seiner ehelichen \ Hausfrau Salome eine Tochter von \ Speth ist eine Sohn \ zur Welt gebohren, den 15 Tag M^t. Jan^r. \ im Jahr unsers Herrn, 1822. Dieser Sohn \ ist geboren in Lucern County in \ Schuckeloff Township \ County, im Staat Penn \ sylveanⁱ in Nord=Amerika, und ist getauft worden \ und erhielt den Namen Jacob \ den 15 Tag M^t. Mai im Jahr unsers \ Herrn, 1822 von Hrn. Benninger \ Prediger \ Die Tauf=Zeugen waren: Joh: Gerhard \ & Salomon Speth.

[on eagle’s banner]
E PLURIBUS UNUM

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum geboren werden \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis zum kühlen 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, \ Ewiges 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 Kreuz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft! deß freu’ ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich.

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!

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.

[on bottom]
Gedruckt und zu haben bey G. S. Peters,- Harrisburg, Pa. 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people namely Friederich Krauss and his lawful wife Salome, a daughter of Speth, a son was born into the world on the 15th day of the month of January, in the year of our Lord 1822. This son was born in Luzerne County in Sugarloaf Township, in the state of Pennsylvania, in North America, and was baptized and received the name Jacob on the 15th day of the month of May in the year of our Lord 1822 from Mr. Benninger, preacher. The sponsors were Joh. Gerhard and Salomon Speth.

[on eagle’s banner]
E PLURIBUS UNUM

[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.

[on bottom]
Printed and to be had from G. S. Peters, Harrisburg, Pa.
 

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

Hand-lettered, printed form; color printing. The central text printed in Fraktur with blanks infilled by hand is in a decorated rectangular frame in the center of the document. A basket with flowers and one of the verses are below it. Two verses are in frames in the upper corners. The main text is flanked by two large inward-facing angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A spread-winged eagle with 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. Between them are two baskets with flowers as well as three bunches of flowers. The entire page is enclosed in a decorative border. For related examples of this certificate in varying editions, see FLP 138, FLP 140, and FLP 1008.

Associated Names: Speth, Salomon
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. 3, p. 72.

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

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1840
Image Dimensions Width: 41.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1010
Creator Name: Gustav S. Peters (1793-1847) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener