Eine wahre und approbirte Kunst in Feuers-Brunsten und Pestilenz-Zeit nützlich zu gebrauchen

[Pennsylvania]: Unknown publisher, ca1810. As issued.. Good; some toning and edge chipping to the sheet; tide mark.. Broadside meas. appx. 260 x 210 mm. Printed on laid paper, no watermark. Text enclosed by an ornamental border

The use of prayers for protection against fires and natural disasters was a commonplace among the PA Germans. It was a natural step from religious prayer to the printed broadside house blessing. Such emigrant traditions came west to America. It is also worth noting that these broadsides soon encompassed fire, pestilenz, long life, safety etc. The religious invocations soon came to appear as almost an after-thought (in the one offered here "Jesus Nazarenus, ein König der Juden ...." is not invoked until four lines from the bottom of the text, and then only once). Such printed "guards" proliferated through PA German country in Pennsylvania. Those prior to 1820 are uncommon in the market.