Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)

  • Title:

    Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein)

  • Category:

    Works on Paper

  • Creator (Role):

    Gustav S. Peters (Printer)

  • Place of Origin:

    New Hanover Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Secondary Place of Origin:

    Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

  • Date:

    1828

  • Materials:

    Ink; Paper (wove)

  • Techniques:

    Letterpress, Woodcut, Hand lettered

  • Museum Object Number:

    1980.0098


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1980.0098

Object Name

Fraktur (Birth and baptismal certificate)

Title

Birth and baptismal certificate (Geburts und Taufschein)

Category

Works on Paper

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of George G. Diffenback

Creator (Role)

Gustav S. Peters (Printer)
c. 1793-1847
References: Earnest, Flying Leaves and One-Sheets, see p. 204; Stopp, The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans, vol. 3, pp. 10, 43-77; Yoder, The Pennsylvania German Broadside, see pp. 15-17. According to Stopp, Peters "was very innovative and is considered to be the first printer, who brought color printing to America." His certificates became "predominant on the market" and he printed over 30 editions (in German and English), all featuring a similar design (Stopp, 10 & 43). Yoder provides useful biographical and bibliographical information on Peters, as much is known and has been published about him.

Place of Origin

New Hanover Township, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Origin Notes

Primary creation place is birthplace on certificate.

Secondary Place of Origin

Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Secondary Origin Notes

Certificate printed by Peters in Harrisburg.

Date

1828

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Inscription; Bottom center; Harrisburg, Pa.--Gedruckt und zu haben bey G.S. Peters.--1828.

Materials

Ink; Paper (wove)

Techniques

Letterpress, Woodcut, Hand lettered

Dimensions (inches)

16.4 (H) , 13 (W) , 15.125 (Image H) , 12.3 (Image W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

41.7 (H) , 33 (W) , 15.125 (Image H) , 12.3 (Image W)

Measurement Notes

OH and OW. Plate H: 15.125 in. (38.41 cm). Plate W: 12.3 in. (31.2 cm).

Publisher Summary

Peters, Gustav S.

Publication Date

1828

Place of Publication

Harrisburg, Harrisburg County, Pennsylvania, Mid-Atlantic, United States, North America

Watermark

none

Coloring

Colored blocks

Edition Notes

This is the first certificate Peters published under his name only. All other editions he printed carry the publication information above or within the outside border.

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Stopp, Klaus. 1998 The Printed Birth and Baptismal Certificates of the German Americans. 3.
See Stopp 363.3, p. 48 (Winterthu's example not listed).
[Article] Rosenberry, Edward L. 1988 "G.S. Peters and his Joseph's Book of Many Colors". Der Reggeboge: Journal of the Pennsylvania German Society. 22 (1): 1-14.

[Article] Egle, William G. 1883 "Gustav Sigismund Peters". Der Deutsche Pioneer. 8: 307-311.