Item Info

Scripts/Text: Fraktur; German script
Language: German
Weiser Number: 461
Physical Description: Leaf
Material: Laid paper; watercolor; ink
Transcription:

Diesen beyden Ehegatten, als: Johannes \ Braun und seiner ehelichen Hausfrau \ Regina eine gebohrne Dinges ist ein \ Sohn zur Welt geboren; im Jahr unsers Herrn 1811 \ den 29 Tag Junius und getauft den [blank] von \ Herrn Faber Prediger und Diener des Worts nach Christi \ Befehl, Matth. 28, 19. Wobey ihm der Name Johann Georg Braun \ gegeben ward. Die Taufzeugen sind: Nicolaus Dinges
Dieser J. Georg ist geboren und getauft in Amerika, im Staate \ Pennsylvanien, Cocalico Taunschip Läncäster Caunty

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 Jahr reif genug zur \ Todtenbahr; und wer weiß in welcher Stunde uns die letzte Stimme weckt: Denn Gott hats \ mit seinem Munde keinem Menschen noch entdeckt. Wer sein Haus nun wohl bestellt, \ geht mit Freuden aus der Welt: Da die Sicherheit hingegen, ew’ges \ Sterben kann erregen.

[in left 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= und Feyer=Kleid.

[in right heart]
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 bleibet ewiglich.
 

Translation:

To these two married people namely Johannes Braun and his lawful wife Regina, a born Dinges, a son was born into the world in the year of our Lord 1811, on the 29th of June, and baptized on the [blank] by Pastor Faber, preacher and servant of the Word according to Christ’s command, Matthew 28:19, where he was given the name Johann Georg Braun. The sponsors are: Nicolaus Dinges.
This J. Georg Dinges was born and baptized in America, in the state of Pennsylvania, Cocalico Township, Lancaster County.

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.

[in left 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.

[in right 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.
 

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

Hand-colored; hand-lettered; printed form. The main text in Fraktur is within a circle in the center of the document. It is flanked on each side by an angel with a trumpet. In the upper center is a sun with a face. Two verses in hearts are in the lower corners. Above each of them is a rose with a bird. In the lower center is a flowerpot with a flower. The entire document is framed by a decorative border.

This is one of three known editions of Taufscheine printed using the same large woodblock, with only slight variations in the typesetting.  The printer is unknown, although Klaus Stopp suggests they were probably produced in Reading.

Associated Names: Faber
Bibliography:

Klaus Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans (East Berlin, Pa.: Russell D. Earnest Associates, 1997) vol. 1, p. 94.

Creation Place Town/Township: Creation Place Note:Based on location of birth
Region/County:Lancaster
City/Town/Township:Cocalico Township
State/Province:Pennsylvania

Creation Year (Single Year or Range Begin): ca. 1810
Image Dimensions Width: 32 cm
ShelfMark: FLP 1053
Creator Name: Anonymous - Decorator
Anonymous - Scrivener
Anonymous - Printer/Publisher