Object Number 1957.1250 A

Object Name

Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)

Title

Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein) of Margaretha Maÿer

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Friedrich Krebs (Scrivener and decorator)-1815
References: Weiser, "The Mad, Lovable World of Frederick Krebs," Der Reggeboge, 1988, vol. 22, no. 2, pp. 49-88; Earnest, Papers for Birth Dayes, p. 237-44. Krebs was the most prolific fraktur artist in America. It is believed he (like Christian Strenge) was a Hessian soldier who either stayed or returned to the United States after the Revolutionary War. He purchased thousands of printed birth and baptismal certificates from varous Reading printers.

Jacob Schneider & Co. (Printer)
01//1797-1802
References: Stopp, The Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, vol. 4, pp. 68 & 122-32. Name of printshop and year published on 1797 and 1798 editions, only year published on 1799, 1800 and 1801 editions.

Place of Origin

Reading, Berks, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Certificate printed for Krebs by Jacob Schneider & Co. in Reading.

Secondary Place of Origin

Franconia Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Secondary Origin Notes

Secondary creation place is birthplace on certificate. Krebs was a schoolmaster in Swatara Township and purchased land west of Hummelstown in present-day Dauphin County in 1796.

Date

1800

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Bottom center within heart; Derfertigt von F. Krebs.
2. Inscription; Bottom center within heart; Gedruckt,/ im Jahr/ 1800.

Materials

Ink; Watercolor; Paper (laid)

Techniques

Drawn , Hand colored, Hand lettered, Letterpress, Painted

Dimensions (inches)

12.8 (H) , 15.6 (W) , 12.8 (Image H) , 15.6 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

32.5 (H) , 39.7 (W) , 12.8 (Image H) , 15.6 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

OH and OW of the paper support. H at left. W at bottom. Chain intervals: 2.5 cm; laid lines per cm not measured.

Watermark

none

Coloring

Hand colored with watercolors

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Minardi, Lisa. 2024 Americana Insights.
• Published: p. 37
[Book] Stopp, Klaus. 1998 The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans. 4.
• Published under Stopp 637, p. 130.
[Article] Weiser, Frederick S. 1988 "Ach Wie ist die Welt so Toll! The mad, lovable world of Friedrich Krebs.". Der Reggeboge: Journal of the Pennsylvania German Society. 22 (2): 49-88.
•
[Book] Earnest, Russell D. & Earnest, Corinne P. 1997 Papers for Birth Dayes: Guide to the Fraktur Artists and Scriveners. 2 vols. 909.
• For more on Krebs, see pp. 460-467.