John S. Wiestling
Birth and Baptismal Certificate

PrinterAmerican, 1787–1842
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Birth and Baptismal Certificate
Datec. 1828
Printed inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States
PlacePennsylvania, 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
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
[no inscriptions]
[no marks]

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