Item Info

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

Haus=Segen.
In GOttes Namen geh ich aus, Ach HErr! regier du heut das Haus; \ Die Hausfrau und die Kinder mein, Laß dir, O GOtt! befohlen sein. Bewahr mein \ Herze, Mund und Hand, Vor großem Laster und vor Schand: Gib daß ich mein sach \ wohl richt aus, Und wider fröhlich komm zu Haus, Daß solches, O getreuer \ HErr! \ Gereichen möcht zu deiner Ehr. Hüt dich, fluch nicht in meinem Haus, oder geh \ bald zur Thür hinaus: Es möcht sonst GOtt vom Himmelreich \ Auch Strafen mich und dich zugleich.

Samuel Baumann, \ Drucker zu \ EPHRATA. \ 1813.

[below image above imprint]
Durouchail F.

[in heart on left]
O leite mich in Segen, \ dem großen zeil ent= \ gegen, dahin dein \ Wort mich \ weißt.

[in heart on right]
Mein leben und mein \ ende ist dein, in dei= \ ne Hände, befehl \ ich meinen \ Geist.

Translation:

House Blessing
In God’s name I go out; O Lord, rule over my house today. Let the wife and my children be commended to you, o God. Preserve my heart, mouth and hand from great sin and shame; take care that I do my work well, and return home cheerfully, that such, o faithful Lord, will suffice for your honor. Restrain yourself, don’t curse in my house, or go soon out the door. Or else God from heaven will punish me and you at the same time.

Samuel Baumann, printer in Ephrata, 1813.

[below image above imprint]
Durouchail F[ecit].

[in heart on left]
O, lead me in blessings toward the great goal; toward it your word is directing me.

[in heart on right]
My life and my end are yours, in your hands I order my spirit.

Category: House Blessing (Haussegen)
Media Type: Letterpress Prints
Source: Rare Book Department
Notes:

Printed form. The main text in fraktur is within a large heart in the center of the document. An image of Mercury, holding a cornucopia and his caduceus, and two putti are above the imprint. The two additional printed verses are within hearts in the lower corners. The large heart is surrounded by birds, stars and flowers, including tulips. Two leaping deer are in the lower corners.
Durouchail was almost certainly the French wood-engraver Pierre Durouchail, who designed type ornaments. He engraved and marked the tailpiece of Mercury.
Nearly identical layout and printed decorations are seen on birth and baptismal certificates printed by Baumann around the same time.

Associated Names: Durouchail, Pierre
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 2, p. 212.

Pierre Durouchail, Specimens of Typographical Ornaments and Borders (Paris, 182-?).

Russell D. Earnest, Corinne P. Earnest, and Patricia Earnest Suter, God Bless This House: The Printed House Blessings (Haus-Segen) of the Pennsylvania Germans 1780-1921 (Clayton, Del.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 2015), p. 39. 

 

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): 1813
Image Dimensions Width: 32.5 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 248
Creator Name: Samuel Baumann (1788-1820) - Printer/Publisher
Pierre Durouchail - Engraver