Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; Roman script
Language: German; English
Weiser Number: 349
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Watermark: V K
Transcription:

Geburts= und Tauf=Schein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als Jacob Stauffer und seiner ehelichen \ Haus=Frau Maria Margaretha eine gebohrne Linsebieglern, ist eine Tochter zur \ Welt gebohren, Namens Anna Maria, im Jahr unsers HErrn JEsu 1808. \ den 5ten Tag May um ½ 7 Uhr Morgens, im Zeichen der Jungfrau, \ Diese Tochter ist Gebohren und Getauft in America, im Staat Pennsylvanien, \ in Montgomery Caunty, in Neuhannover Taunschip \ Obgemelde Anna Maria ist Getauft worden den 22ten Tag May, \ von Herrn Friedrich Geißenheiner Tauf=Zeugen waren die Groß Eltern \ Paul Linsebiegler und deßen Ehefrau Anna Maria. 

Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, ist vom ersten Lebenstritt bis ins kühle Grab der Erden, Nur ein kurz gemessner Schritt. \ Ach mit jedem Augenblick! Gehet unsre Kraft zurück. Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, allzureif zur \ Todtenbahre; Und wer weiß in welcher Stunde, uns die lezte 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. \ Da die Sicherheit hingegen; Ewigs Sterben kan erregen.

[added in pencil]
Dide July 14 \ 79 y 2 m 9 d

[in left heart]
Ich bin getauft, ich steh im Bunde, \ Durch meine Tauf mit meinem GOtt \ So sprech’ ich stets mit frohem Munde; \ in Creutz, 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 Feu= \ erkleid.

[on reverse, in pencil]
Rev. J. S. Rennigers \ Mother 
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate
To these two married people namely Jacob Stauffer and his lawful wife Maria Margaretha, a born Linsebieglern, a daughter was born into the world, named Anna Maria, in the year of our Lord Jesus 1808, on the 5th day of May at 6:30 o’clock in the morning, in the sign of Virgo. This daughter was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, in Montgomery County, in New Hanover Township. Above mentioned Anna Maria was baptized on the 22nd day of May by Mister Friedrich Geissenheiner. Sponsors were the grandparents Paul Linsebiegler and his wife Anna Maria. 

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.

[added in pencil]
Died July 14, 79 y[ears], 2 m[onths], 9 d[ays]

[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.

[on reverse, in pencil]
Rev. J. S. Renninger’s mother.
 

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

Hand-drawn; hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text in Fraktur within a heart is in the center of the document. The two verses in Fraktur within hearts are beneath it. From their tops protrude leafy branches. Two birds are sitting on them. In the upper center is a mermaid holding a hand mirror, and in the upper corners are two flowers. In the lower center are two tulips.  See also FLP 100 and 1077 for related examples decorated by the same artist.  Although Weiser noted a VK watermark, Stopp describes this edition as having an AK mark associated with Abraham Keller of Exeter Township, Berks County.

A certificate made by Friedrich Krebs for the child's mother, born 12/29/1789, is listed in Stopp, vol. 1, p. 144.

Associated Names: Stauffer, Maria Margaretha
Bibliography:

"F.T. Ebbecke"  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. 215-216.

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1998) vol. 4, p. 160.

Russell and Corinne Earnest, “FRAKTUR-FEST II: A Tribute to Richard S. Machmer,” in Der Reggboge 41, no. 2 (2007): 11-12.

Secondary Place Town/Township: Geographic Coverage State/Province:Pennsylvania
Geographic Coverage City/Town/Township:New Hanover Township
Geographic Coverage Note:Based on location of birth
Geographic Coverage Region/County:Montgomery

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. 1808
Image Dimensions Width: 33.6 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1123
Creator Name: [Frederick Christopher Bischoff (1771-1834)] - Decorator
[Frederick Christopher Bischoff (1771-1834)] - Scrivener
[Johann Ritter (1779-1851)] - Printer/Publisher