John S. Wiestling
Birth and Baptismal Certificate

Public Domain

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Printer John S. Wiestling (American, 1787–1842)American, 1787–1842

CultureAmerican

Titles

Birth and Baptismal Certificate

Datec. 1828

PlacePennsylvania, United States

Printed inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States

MediumLetterpress and woodcut with red and brown inks, gouache and watercolor on laid paper

DimensionsSheet: 15 1/2 × 13 1/4 in. (39.4 × 33.7cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Mrs. Max Levine

Object numberB.84.2

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

PRINTS

DescriptionElaborate birth and baptismal certificates were important markers of these milestones in Pennsylvania German communities. While earlier examples were drawn and written entirely by hand, by the late 1700s, some began to incorporate preprinted text. This example was made for a boy named Johannes Schuy, who was born on September 23, 1811, 1810 in East Hanover Township, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. John S. Wiestling printed this example in nearby Harrisburg.
ProvenanceDoor prize at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, ball, 1954; procured by Marcella “Marty” Levine, Houston, 1954; given to MFAH, 1984.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

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