Happy New Year from the Prague Confraternity of St. Sebastian. Unrecorded.

[St. Sebastian Confraternity] / [Prague] / [New Year’s broadside] / Josephus Moraweck / Ignatis Saltzer (engraver). Geistlicher Neu Jahrs Wunsch. Sebastianus Ein Unüberwindlicher Ritter, standhaftiger Blutzeug und berühmter Pest-Patron für alle Verehrer besonders für einverliebte Mitglieder der in der Kloster Pfarr- und Hof-Kirche des heiligen Thomas errichteten hochlöblichen Bruderschaft dieses heiligen Martyrers. S.l. [Prague]: s.n., s.a. [1777]. [42.8 x 34.5 cm], [1] letterpress broadside with engraving at center. Folds, marginal toning.
 
 
Unrecorded broadside issued to celebrate the new year 1778 by the confraternity devoted to St. Sebastian in the church of Saint Thomas in Prague (Kostel svatého Tomáše). At the center of the sheet is a fine engraving of the martyr by Ignaz Salzer, who operated in Micro-Prague.
 
The broadside is signed by Josephus Moraweck (Josef Moravek), a confraternity member. The heading recognizes “Sebastian, an invincible knight, steadfast martyr, and renowned patron saint against the plague” and states that a happy new year is wished for “all devotees, especially devout members of the highly esteemed brotherhood of this holy martyr.”
 
Sebastian’s status as a ‘survive-and-advance’ plague saint fits nicely with contemplating living through another year. Moraweck writes, “Most distinguished brothers, women & maiden sisters of this most praiseworthy brotherhood of the holy martyr Sebastian, what could be more pleasant and comforting for you at the beginning of this New Year 1778 than that you may survive not only this present year, but also many future ones, with true contentment and desired peace of heart?”
 
The broadside would have been posted at the church and distributed to confraternity members.
 
 
This item is not located by OCLC or KVK.