1866 16mo Dakota Wowapi Wakan – New Testament, Genesis, Proverbs in Dakota with Provenance

Dakota Wowapi Wakan Kin. The New Testament in the Dakota Language: Translated from the Original Greek, by Stephen R. Riggs, A.M [Bound With] Wicoicage Wowapi, Mowis Owa Qa Wicoie Wakan Kin, Salomon Kaga … The Books of Genesis and Proverbs, in the Dakota Language, Translated from the original Hebrew, by Thos. S. Williamson, A.M., M.D.

Summary

A very scarce copy of the second edition of the New Testament in the Dakota language bound with the first edition of the books of Genesis and Proverbs in Dakota.

Description

Printed title page (1866) with text of New Testament translated into the Dakota language by Stephen R. Riggs. With index and text in two column Roman font. Revelation ends with four pages designed for notes. Bound with the books of Genesis and Proverbs, with title page, translated into the Dakota language by Thos. S. Williamson.

Pagination

[4, blank], 408 [New Testament], [4, for notes], 115 [Genesis and Proverbs], [3, blank] pp. Lacks the first leaf of Genesis.

Binding

Black blind-tooled calf with recessed bands. The text “Dakota Wowapi Wakan” lettered in gilt.

Provenance

“Mrs. Isaac Warrior” in pencil to front endpaper. Titus through Revelation with checkmarks at the start of each chapter. Revelation 20 with note “Mar 1st Tue Morning 1904”, Revelation 21 with note “Mar 2nd Wed Morning 1904”, and Revelation 22 with note “Mar3rd Thur Morning 1904.” It appears that a chapter was read daily. Isaac Warrior was chief from approx. 1863 – 1866.

Condition

Rubbed and scuffed, particularly to edges and spine; top of spine chipped; infrequent foxing and staining, mostly to beginning and end of volume; dampstain to gutter through Matthew 20 (p. 34); short, closed tear to final leaf of Revelation; Genesis 1:1-2:5 (pp. 3-4) excised.

Note

The second edition of the New Testament in Dakota (the first published one year prior) and translated by Rev. Stephen Riggs. Riggs was commissioned as missionary to the Dakota in 1837. He devoted himself to the study of the language and became both a master and an authority on the subject. The Rev. Thomas S. Williamson left his successful practice in medicine to translate the Old Testament, first issuing the books of Genesis and Proverbs. He organized a native church at Lac-qui-Parle and has been called the Father of the Dakota Mission. “The men who sought the moral and spiritual elevation of the Sioux Indians, by consecrating their scholarship to the dissemination of scriptural light and knowledge, have made an imperishable record” (Wright, 300).

References

Wright 298-302.