Birth certificate, polychrome on paper, done for the birth of John Bachman of Lampeter Twp. by Eli Haverstick.
Text is enclosed in a central arched arbor with flame finials. Text reads:
"John Bachman A son of Jacob Bachman and wife Barbara A daughter of Christian Kindig was born on the 10th Day of June in the year of our Lord 1832 In the Township of Lampeter in the County of Lancaster in the State of Pennsylvania in North AMERICA.'
Supporting the arbor is a large double-compartmented rectangular base containing eight lines of religious verse.
At page bottom is an unusual temple-like structure, of Moorish or Middle Eastern appearance, flanked by blue trees and large multi-colored pinwheel flowers.
The borders of the page have colorful floral motifs aligned in a similar configuration as the central arbor. Hearts and stars fill the top corners. Above the central arbor is a stylized star/flower sprouting two flowers. Flanking the star are two trees growing horizontally toward the star.
Inscription on reverse, in tiny yellow script, is "Eli Haverstick."
(Written by Wendell Zercher.)
Provenance
Donated by Mrs. Lucy Bell Newlin Sellers of Phila., PA; and her brother, Wm. V.P. Newlin of Washington, D.C. in memory of their parents, Elizabeth and Mortimer Newlin. May 28, 1996, valued at $20,000.00.
Acid burn, soiling, including liquid stains, some crackled paint with minor losses (in black paint of arch of the central 'arbor' and in red motif at bottom right corner.
Conserved and reframed by Marilyn Kemp Weidner, Feb. 1997.
Object ID
G.96.09.01
Notes
Pictured on p. 64 of Corinne & Russell Earnests' book, Fraktur: Folk Art & Family.
