Gerburts und Taufschein (Birth and Baptismal Certificate)

Schumacher was born in Germany and immigrated to North America in 1751. By 1754, he had settled in Pennsylvania, where he made a reputation for himself as a rather unorthodox preacher and one of the 18th century’s most original fraktur artists. He made Birth and Baptismal certificates for many of the children he baptized. This certificate includes brief moral lessons placed in the lower corners, in this case, within the hearts. Some of his favorite motifs included hearts, flowers (mostly tulips), bouquets of flowers in baskets, angels, the “eye of God” and human figures.

Made for Jacob Kistler, son of Samuel and Maria Elisabeth Kistler. Jacob Kistler was born October 5, 1781, in Lynn Township, Northampton (now Lehigh) County.  His baptismal sponsors were his maternal grandparents, Jacob and Maria Elisabeth Ladig [Ladich].