Confirmations =Lieder. Gesungen von den Confirmaden des Ehrw. Hern Zeller
Allentaun: Blumer Druckerei, ca. 1830. Item #511
Folio broadside: 335 x 215 mm., [13 ¼ x 8 ½ inches]. Printed in two columns on blue paper; heavily stained, some tears at folds; expert paper repairs to folds.
Rare broadside issued as part of a confirmation ceremony presided over by Andrew Zeller (1755-1839), one of the early bishops of the United Brethren Church in America. Following the example of the Methodists, this German language ministry of the UBC, used revivals, camp meetings and song as a way of ministering to its German American Evangelical congregation.
The ‘Confirmation Song’, comprised of three hymns, was part of the traditional ceremony celebrating the congregant’s admission to full membership in the church. The song is attributed to Heinrich Albert (1604-1651) and was used by Bach in his vocal works.
The broadside is printed by Alexander Blumer, son of the Reformed pastor Abraham Blumer. He began printing in the late 1820’s and his company, under a number of partnerships lasted until 1856. This broadside is identified by Herman Wellenreuther and dated ca. 1830. Another example of the Confirmations =Lieder printed in 1850 by Blumer is described and illustrated by Don Yoder in his book on Pennsylvania broadsides. It is also printed on blue paper.
This broadside is not cited in OCLC and appears not to be in the collections of the Library Company or the American Antiquarian Society.
Herman Wellenreuther, Citizens in a Strange Land, Penn State University Press, 2013, note 7, p. 299. Stephen Nolt, Foreigners in their Own Land, Penn State University Press, 2002, pp. 50-51. Yoder, The Pennsylvania Broadside, pp. 244-45.
Price: $750.00