Item Info

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

Geburts= und Taufschein.
Diesen beyden Ehegatten, \ Als: [blank] und seiner \ ehelichen Hausfrau [blank] eine gebohrne \ [blank] ist ein [blank] zur Welt \ gebohren, den [blank] Tag [blank] im Jahr \ unsers HErrn, [blank] Diese [blank] ist \ gebohren in [blank] \ Caunty, im Staat [blank] in Nord=Amerika, \ und ist getauft worden und erhielt den Namen [blank] \ [blank] den [blank] Tag [blank] \ im Jahr unsers HErrn [blank] von Hrn. [blank] \ Die Taufzeugen waren [blank] 

[in upper left]
Wann wir kaum gebohren werden, \ Ist vom ersten Lebenstritt \ Bis zum kühlen Grab der Erden, \ Nur ein kurz gemeß’ner Schritt. \ Ach! mit jedem Augenblick \ Gehet unsre Kraft zurück; \ Und wir sind mit jedem Jahre, \ Alle reif zur Todten=Bahre.

[in upper right]
O, wer weis, 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, \ Ewiges Sterben kann erregen.

[in lower left]
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 und Noth. \ Ich bin getauft, des freu ich mich, \ Die Freude bleibt mir ewiglich.

[in lower right]
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 Feyer=Kleid.

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

[on eagle’s banner]
E PLURIBUS UNUM

[in bottom center]
Allentaun, \ Gedruckt und zu haben \ bey \ Henrich Ebner. \ 1817.
 

Translation:

Birth and Baptismal Certificate
To these two married people, namely [blank] and his lawful wife [blank], a born [blank] was born a [blank] into the world, the [blank] day [blank] in the year of our Lord, [blank]. This [blank] was born in [blank] County, in the state [blank] in North America, and was baptized and received the name [blank] on the [blank] day [blank] in the year of our Lord [blank] from Mr. [blank]. The sponsors were [blank]. 

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

[on eagle’s banner]
E Pluribus Unum

[in bottom center]
Allentown, printed and to be had from Henrich Ebner. 1817.
 

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

Hand-colored; printed form. The central text is within a frame in the center of the document. Two verses within frames are in the upper corners. Three additional verses within frames are below the central text. It is flanked by two large angels with lyres, one holding a wreath and the other with a bird. A putto with a trumpet, a letter, and a floral garland, is lounging on clouds in the upper center. In each of the lower corners is a bird perched on a leafy branch and picking at a cluster of fruit. An eagle with a shield, cluster of arrows, and an olive branch is below the central text. It is holding a banner in its beak. Above it is a cluster of stars with emanating beams of light. The form is blank.

Associated Names: Ebner, Henrich
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, p. 157.

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

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): 1817
Image Dimensions Width: 40.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1178
Creator Name: Henrich Ebner (active c. 1816-1831) - Printer/Publisher
Anonymous - Decorator