Item Info

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

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: \ [blank] und seiner \ ehelichen Hausfrau [blank] geborne \ [blank] ist ein [blank] zur Welt \ geboren, den [blank] Tag [blank] im Jahr \ unsers Herrn, [blank] Diese [blank] ist geboren in \ [blank] in [blank] \ Caunty, im Staat [blank] in Nord= \ America; und erhielt durch die Heilige Taufe den Namen \ [blank] den [blank] Tag \ [blank] im Jahr [blank] von dem Ehrw. \ Hrn. [blank]
Die Tauf=Zeugen waren: [blank]

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum geboren werden, \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt, \ Bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein Kurtz gemeß’ner Schritt.
Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück; \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Allzureif zur Todtenbahre!
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 kan erregen.

[in upper right]
Komm, mein Herr, zu deiner taufe, \ Tauche dich im Geist hinein, \ Daß der alte Mensch ersaufe; \ Denn ich muß ein neuer seyn.
Neu in der Gerechtigkeit, \ In den Blutrock eingekleidet; \ Neu in allen Seelenkräften, \ In Gedanken und Geschäften.
Nun, mein Gott, da sind die Hände, \ Lege deine hand hinein; \ Laß das Bündniß biß an’s Ende \ Vest und immer grünend seyn.
Mein Versprechen ohne dich, \ Wahrlich, das betrüget mich. \ Aber durch den Trost des Falles, \ Durch den Sohn vermag ich Alles.

[in lower left]
Ich bin getauft in deinem Namen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heiliger Geist! \ Ich bin gezählt zu Deinem Saamen,

[in lower right]
Zum Volk, das Dir geheiligt heißt. \ O! welch ein Glück ward dadurch mein, \ Herr, laß mich deßen würdig sein!

[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, 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 Feyerkleid.

Reading, \ gedruckt und zu haben bey \ Baab und Döbler.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people, namely [blank] and his lawful wife [blank] born [blank] a [blank] was born into the world on the [blank] day [blank] in the year of our Lord [blank]. This [blank] was born in [blank] in [blank] County, in the state of [blank] in North America; and received through the holy baptism the name [blank] on the [blank] day [blank] in the year [blank] . The sponsors were: [blank].

[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.
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 upper right]
Come, my Lord, to your baptism. Immerse yourself in your spirit so that the old man may drown for I have to be a new one.
Renewed in justice, dressed in the gown of blood. Renewed in all powers of the soul, in thoughts and in business.
Now, my Lord, here are the hands. Place your hands into them. Let the covenant until the end be strong and always green.
My promise without you truly betrays me. But through the comfort of the fall, through the son, I can do anything.

[in lower left]
I am baptized in your name, God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I am counted as one of your seeds,

[in lower right]
to a people that you blessed. O! What fortune for me! Lord, let me be worthy of it!

[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, 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.
Reading, printed and to be had from Baab and Döbler.
 

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 is in the center of the document within a rectangular frame. Two verses within frames are in the upper corners, and two verses within frames are below the main text. Two verses, without frames, are on the sides. The imprint is in the lower center. The main text is flanked by two figures holding wreaths. The figure at the left, representing Faith, wears a cross. The right figure, representing Hope, leans on an anchor. A seated figure above the text, in the top center, representing Love, holds a heart in one hand. In the two lower corners are birds on branches. Above the imprint is an open book of music with a lyre and horn partially visible. Below the main text frame is an angel with a letter and a trumpet. The entire document is enclosed in a decorative border. The form is blank.

Notes:

Little is known about the partnership of Baab and Döbler, who used printing material of Philip Hantsch after his death in 1826.  Only one Taufschein edition is known by them.

Associated Names: Hantsch, Philip
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 298.

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. 1829
Image Dimensions Width: 40.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1177
Creator Name: Baab (active c. 1829) - Printer/Publisher
Döbler (active c. 1829) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Decorator