Subject: Baptismal certificates

A filled-in and signed baptismal certificate written in Hebrew and Yiddish. The certificate, printed by Blumer, Busch & Co. in Allentown, PA, was created for Jacob Hartling and completed by Martin Wetzler on April 26, 1856. It features Jewish stars and Wetzler's distinctive Yiddish signature. The unusual birthdate of 1829 is noted.

A filled-in and signed baptismal certificate, printed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by Schaefer & Koradi. The certificate, written in Hebrew and Yiddish, was completed by Martin Wetzler on June 9, 1861, for Heinrich Grunewald. Wetzler's iconic Yiddish signature is present. The document features watercolor details.

A baptismal certificate, printed in German and filled in by hand in Hebrew (Yiddish) with watercolor and red ink. The certificate includes a Jewish star and was completed by Martin Wetzler, a Jewish scrivener, in Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on October 1, 1858. The document is notable for Wetzler's unique practice of using Hebrew and a Jewish star on a Christian baptismal certificate.

Printed baptismal certificate filled in and signed by Martin Wetzler, a Jewish scrivener, for William Warwood on April 28, 1869 in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The certificate, printed by Leifenring in Allentown, is notable for Wetzler's rarity as a Jewish scrivener in the Lehigh Valley at that time. Wetzler, known as the "Jewish Dindamann" (penman), wrote in Hebrew, German, and English and sometimes included a Star of David on these Christian certificates.

Filled-in and signed baptismal certificate, dated April 28, 1869. The certificate is printed on a form and features watercolor additions. It was printed in Allentown, Pennsylvania by Leifenring in 1865. The certificate is notable for being filled out by Martin Wetzler, one of only two known Jewish scriveners in the Lehigh Valley at that time. Wetzler, who was known as the "Jewish Dindamann" (penman) by Pennsylvania Germans, wrote in cursive Yiddish and included a Star of David. He was proficient in Hebrew, German, and English and sometimes added a Star of David and signed in Hebrew to Christian certificates. This was apparently not objectionable to his clients. (See "Papers for Birth Dayes", Vol. II by Russell & Corinne Earnest)

A colored and filled-in baptismal certificate (Taufshine), signed by Martin Wetzler. Dated September 2, 1864. The certificate is notable for being created by a Jewish scrivener, Martin Wetzler, who was a rarity in the Lehigh Valley at that time. Wetzler was known for his knowledge of Hebrew, German, and English; he sometimes included Jewish symbols on Christian certificates.