Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 116
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts- und Tauf-Schein \ Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: \ Johannes Groff und seiner \ ehelichen Hausfrau Elisabeth, eine gebohrne \ Wennerin ist ein Sohn zur Welt \ gebohren, den 20ten Tag May^x im Jahr \ unsers HErrn 1821 . Dieser Sohn ist \ gebohren in Bethel Taunschip in Lebanon \ Caunty, im Staate Pennsylvania in Nord=America; \ und ist getauft worden und erhielt den Namen Michael \ Groff den [blank] Tag \ im Jahr unsers HErrn [blank] von Hrn. [ blank] \ Die Tauf=Zeugen waren [blank] \ ^x des Nachmittags um 3 Uhr \ im Zeichen des Steinbocks. \ P. Otto.

[On the bottom]
Herausgegeben und zu haben bey Georg W. Mentz, No, 71, in der Rehs=Straße.

[At the top]
Die zehen Geboten

[captions below the images]
I. Do sollst keine andere Götter neben mir haben. 2 Mose. Cap. 20, v. 3.
II \ Du sollst Dir kein Bildniß noch ir= \ gend ein Gleichniß machen weder deß \ das oben im Himmel u.s.w.
III \ Du sollst den Namen des HErrn \ deines GOttes, nicht mißbrauchen u.s.w.
IV \ Gedenke des Sabbathtages daß du \ ihn heiligest Sechs Tage, u.s.w.
V \ Du sollst deinen Vater und deine Mut= \ ter ehren auf daß du lange lebest im \ Lande das der Herr, u.s.w.
VI \ Du sollst nicht tödten.
VII \ Du sollst nicht Ehebrechen.
VIII \ Du sollst nicht stehlen.
IX \ Du sollst kein falsches Zeugniß \ reden wider deinen Nächsten.
Laß dich nicht gelüsten deines ___ X. ___ Nächsten Haus, u.s.w.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate. To these two married people, namely Johannes Groff and his lawful wife Elisabeth, a born Wennerin, a son was born into the world, on the 20th day May^x in the year of our Lord 1821. This son was born in Bethel Township, in Lebanon County, in the state of Pennsylvania in North America, and was baptized and received the name Michael Groff on the [blank] day in the year of our Lord [blank] from Mr. [blank]. The sponsors were [blank]
^x in the afternoon at 3 o’clock in the sign of Capricorn. P. Otto. 

[on the bottom]
Published and to be had from Georg W. Mentz, No. 71, Race Street.

[At the top]
The Ten Commandments

[captions below the images]
I. You shall have no other gods before me. 2 Moses 20:3.
II. You shall not make for yourself an image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above etc.
III. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain etc.
IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy every six days, etc.
V. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the world that the Lord, etc.
VI You shall not kill
VII. You shall not commit adultery
VIII. You shall not steal.
IX. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, etc.
 

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered, engraved. The birth and baptismal announcement in Fraktur is within a wreath in the center of the document. The Ten Commandments surround the central text as captioned illustrations. The illustration of the first commandment in the top center is particularly large, with an image of Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments on two stone tablets from God. The form and illustrations were engraved and printed, and then infilled and colored by hand. The scrivener added the time of day and zodiac sign beneath the central printed text.

Associated Names: Wenner, Elisabeth
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

“Peter C. Otto” 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), 2nd ed., vol. 2, pp. 601-602.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 3, p. 216.

Lisa Minardi, "Henrich Otto and Sons: Fraktur Artists and Furniture Decorators," Der Reggeboge 49, no. 2 (2015), published on p. 95 as fig. 84.

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

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1830
Image Dimensions Width: 50.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 132
Creator Name: [Peter C. Otto (active c. 1827-1846)] - Scrivener
Georg Wilhelm Mentz (?-?) - Printer/Publisher