Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; Roman script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 113
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Tauf=Schein
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Heinerich Steiner und seiner Ehlichen \ Haus=Frau Maria eine gebohrne Coldern ist eine Tochter zur Welt \ gebohren, namens Maria Steiner im Jahr unsers HErrn JEsu 1843 den 29^t \ Tag May um 5 Uhr Abends im Zeichen des Waßermans \ Diese Tochter ist Gebohren und Getauft in America, im Staat Pensylvany Caunty, Lancester \ Taunschip, Brecknock Obgemelde Maria Steiner ist Getauft worden, den 5^t Tag \ Mertz vom Herrn Pf^r Hertz Tauf=Zeigen Die Eltern des \ Kindes selbsten

Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, ist vom ersten Lebenstritt, bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, Nur ein Kurtz gemessener Schritt. Ach mit jedem Augenblick! \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück, und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, allzu reiff zur Todenbahre; Und wer weiss in welcher Stunde, uns die letzte Stimme weckt; \ Dann GOtt hat’s mit seinem Munde, Keinem Menschen noch entdeckt. Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt, geht mit Freuden aus der Welt, \ Das die Sicherheit hingegen; Ewigs Sterben kan erregen.

EPHRATA: gedruckt bey \ Samuel Baumann,

[in left heart]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh’ im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem GOtt, \ So sprech’ ich stets mit frohem Munde; \ in Creuz, in Trübsal, Angst und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, deß’ freu \ ich mich, Die Freude \ bleibet ewig= \ lich.

[in right heart]
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, das \ fey= \ erkleid.

[in lower right]
Francis D. Levan

Translation:

Baptismal Certificate
To these two married people, namely Heinerich Steiner and his lawful wife Maria, a born Coldern, a daughter was born into the world, namely Maria Steiner, in the year of our Lord Jesus 1843, the 29^th day May at 5 o’clock in the evening, in the sign of Aquarius. This daughter was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, County Lancaster, Township Brecknock. Above mentioned Maria Steiner was baptized the 5^th day March from Mister Pastor Hertz. Sponsors were the parents of the child itself. 

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.

Ephrata: printed by Samuel Baumann.

[in left heart]
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.

[in right heart]
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.

[in lower right]
Francis D. Levan

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text and imprint in fraktur with blanks infilled by hand in fraktur is within a large heart in the center of the document. Above and below the imprint are birds. The verses within hearts are in the two lower corners. Two birds are sitting on leafy vines that protrude from the hearts. The large heart is surrounded on the sides and top by two stars as well as various stems of flowers, including tulips. In the lower center are two flowers, and in the lower corners are two deer. The document is signed in Roman script in the lower right.

Associated Names: Steiner, Maria
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

“Francis D. Levan” 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. 2, pp. 514-518.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 2, p. 213.

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

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1813
Image Dimensions Width: 33.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 261
Creator Name: Francis D. Levan (c. 1780-c. 1850) - Decorator
Francis D. Levan (c. 1780-c. 1850) - Scrivener
Samuel Baumann (1788-1820) - Printer/Publisher