Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur
Language: German
Weiser Number: 493
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Wove paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Geburts= und Taufschein. \ Diesen beiden Ehegatten, als: \ John Heck und seiner ehelichen \ Hausfrau Hanna eine geborne \ Zinnas \ ist eine Tochter zur Welt geboren, den 15^ten Tag \ December im Jahr unsers Herrn, 1848 \ Diese Tochter ist geboren in North Heidelberg \ Taunschip in Berks County, im Staat \ Pennsylvania Vereinigte Staaten von Nord \ Amerika; und erhielt durch die Heil. Taufe den \ Namen Matilda Heck den 1^ten Tag \ July im Jahr 1849 von dem Ehrw. \ Hrn. Isaac Miese \ Die Tauf=Zeugen waren: George Staudt \ und seine Frau Littia

[In upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, \ Ist, vom ersten Lebenstritt, \ Bis zum kühlen Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein Kurtz gemessener Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück. \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Allzureif zur Todtenbahre.

[In upper right]
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 kann erregen.

[In center, in two columns]
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 u. 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 Feierkleid.

[In lower center]
Ich bin gezählt zu Deinem Saamen, \ Gott Vater, Sohn und heiliger Geist! \ Ich bin getauft in Deinem Namen, \ Zum Volk, das Dir geheiligt heißt! \ O! welch’ ein Glück ward dadurch mein! \ Herr, laß mich dessen würdig sein!

Gedruckt und zu haben bei A. Puwelle, in Reading, Penn.

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate.
To these two married people, namely John Heck and his lawful wife Hanna, a born Zinnas, a daughter was born into the world, the 15^th day December in the year of our Lord 1848.This daughter was born in North Heidelberg Township in Berks County in the state of Pennsylvania, United States of North America, and received through the Holy Baptism the name Matilda Heck, the 1^st day July in the year 1849, from the honorable Mr. Isaac Miese. The sponsors were: George Staudt and his wife Littia.

[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.

[in upper right]
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 center, in two columns]
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.

[in lower center]
I am counted as one of your seeds, God Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I am baptized in your name, to a people that you blessed. O! What fortune for me! Lord, let me be worthy of it!

Printed and to be had from A. Puwelle, in Reading, Penn.

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 with blanks infilled by hand is in a rectangular frame in the center of the document. Two verses are in frames in the upper corners, and a third is within a frame in the lower center of the page. The main text is flanked by two large inward-facing angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A putto, with a trumpet and a sealed letter, lounges on clouds in the upper center. In the lower corners are birds on branches. A sheaf, cornucopia and leaves are between them. For the only known fraktur drawn by Puwelle, see FLP 310.

Associated Names: Zinnas, Hanna
Provenance: Henry S. Borneman

Bibliography:

"Arnold Puwelle" 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, p. 631.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 4, p. 290.

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

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. 1849
Image Dimensions Width: 43 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 136
Creator Name: Arnold Puwelle (1809-1879) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Scrivener
Anonymous - Decorator