Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script; Roman script
Language: German; English
Weiser Number: 502
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein.
Diesen beiden Ehegatten, \ Als: Andreas Kratzer \ und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau Maria \ eine geborne Mayerin ist ein \ Sohn geboren worden, den 23^ten Tag \ Märtz im Jahr unsers HErrn, 1810 \ Dieser Sohn ist geboren in North Whithal \ Taunschip Lecha Caunty, im Staat \ Pennsylvania in Nord=America, und ist \ getauft worden und erhielt den Namen Joseph \ Getauft den 11^ten Tag May \ im Jahr unsers HErrn 1810 von Hrn. Gobrecht \ Die Taufzeugen waren Martin Mayer \ und seine Eheliche Hausfrau Margaretha

[along left side of central text frame]
Married November 28^th 1848 Joseph Kratzer

[penciled below angel on right]
Died Nov 7^th 1885

[on eagle’s banner]
E PLURIBUS UNUM

[in upper left]
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 wohlbestellt: \ Geht mit Freuden aus der Welt: \ Da die Sicherheit hingegen, \ Ewiges Sterben kann erregen.

[in upper right]
Wann wir kaum gebohren 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, \ Alle reif zur Todten= Bahre.

[in frames 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 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 sein!

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]
Allentaun, Pa. gedruckt und zu haben bei A. und W. Blumer.

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate
To these two married people, namely Andreas Kratzer and his lawful wife Maria, a born Mayerin, a son was born, the 23^rd day March in the year of our Lord 1810. This son was born in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, in the state of Pennsylvania in North America, and was baptized and received the name Joseph. Baptized the 11^th day May in the year of our Lord 1810 from Mr. Gobrecht. The sponsors were Martin Mayer and his lawful wife Margaretha. 

[along left side of central text frame]
Married November 28^th 1848 Joseph Kratzer

[penciled below angel on right]
Died Nov 7^th 1885

[on eagle’s banner]
E Pluribus unum

[in upper left]
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]
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 frames 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]
Allentown, Pa., Printed and to be had from A. and W. Blumer.

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

Hand-lettered; printed form. The central text is within a frame in the center of the document. Three verses within frames are below it. Two additional verses within rectangular frames are in the upper corners. The main text is flanked by two large inward-facing angels with harps, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. Below the main text is a basket of flowers. A spread-winged eagle, with a banner in its beak, is in the upper center. In each of the lower corners are two birds perched on a leafy tree. An urn with flowers is below the verses in the center.
Alexander and William Blumer were partners from 1834-1840. This edition, believed to be from the beginning of their partnership, uses the same layout as the later editions of Augustus Grater and Alexander Blumer, who were partners from 1832-33.

Associated Names: Mayer, Martin
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, p. 174.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:North Whitehall Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth.
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Lehigh

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of printshop.
Region/County:Lehigh
City/Town/Township:Allentown
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1834
Image Dimensions Width: 41 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 246
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Alexander Blumer (1806-1842) - Printer/Publisher
William Blumer (1811-1884) - Printer/Publisher