Item Info

Scripts/Text: Roman script
Language: English
Weiser Number: 486
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Certificate of Birth and Baptism. \ Isabella Y. Keeler a Daughter of \ Samuel Keeler and wife Franny \ daughter of Samuel & Rebecca Yost was born on the \ Sixth day of March in the year of our \ Lord, 1857, in the Township of Tinicum \ in the county of Bucks in the State of \ Pennsylvania in North America; and was \ baptized on the In day of Infancy in the year \ of our Lord, 18 [blank], by the Rev’d C. P. Miller. \ Her Sponsors were \ The Parents Themselves

‘Twas the commission of our Lord: \ Go teach the nations and baptize. \ The nations have received the word, \ Since he ascended to the skies.

Repent and be baptized, he saith, \ For the remission of your sins; \ And thus our sense assists our faith \ And shows us what his gospel means.

Our souls he washes with his blood, \ As water makes the body clean. \ And the good spirit from our God \ Descends like purifying rain.

Thus we engage ourselves to thee, \ And seal our covenant with the Lord, \ O may the great Eternal Three, \ In heav’n our solemn vows record.

[on open book]
HOLY BIBLE

[below bible, in script]
Christian G. Hirsch

READING, PA. \ PRINTED AND FOR SALE AT THE \ EAGLE BOOK STORE.

[in upper left]
Our wasting lives grow shorter still, \ As months and days increase: \ And every beating pulse we tell, \ Leaves but the number less. \ The year rolls round and steals away \ The breath that first it gave, \ Whate’er we do, whate’er we be, \ We are traveling to the grave.

[in upper right]
Infinite joy or endless woe \ Attends on every breath; \ And yet how unconcern’d we go, \ Upon the brink of death! \ Waken, O Lord! our drowsy sense, \ To walk this dangerous road; \ And if our souls are hurried hence, \ May they be found with God.

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

Hand-lettered; hand-colored; printed form. The main text in Fraktur with blanks infilled by hand, four verses and the imprint are in a rectangular frame in the center of the document. It is flanked by frontal images of two large angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A putto, with a trumpet, letter and floral garlands, lounges on clouds in the upper center. Below the verses is an image of an open Bible, radiating light with a small dove above. A trumpet and harp, as well as music and wreaths are above them. 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: Yost, Samuel
Bibliography:

“Christian G. Hirsch” in Russell D. and Corinne P. Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997), 2^nd ed., vol. 1, pp. 397-398.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 248.

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

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. 1875
Image Dimensions Width: 43.3 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 253
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous [Christian G. Hirsch (?-?)] - Scrivener
Eagle Book Store - Printer/Publisher