Dakota Wowapi Wakan, The Holy Bible, In The Language Of The Dakotas: Translated Out Of The Original Tongues

THOMAS S. AND STEPHEN R. RIGGS WILLIAMSON

Publication: American Bible Society, 1879, New York

First edition. Original full leather binding, with ornate blindstamping to front and rear panels and title in gilt on spine. 408pp. Stephen Return Riggs was a Christian missionary and linguist who spent forty years in the Minnesota River Valley, Nebraska, and Dakota Territory. In both these roles, he aimed to "Christianize and civilize" the Dakota people he believed were caught in the "bonds of heathenism." To further his project, he compiled the first printed dictionary of the Dakota language. He and Dr. Thomas Williamson, a physician serving as a missionary, learned Dakota in order for them to be able to preach the Christian gospel to mission residents. They worked together for 5 years, translating hymns and simple Bible stories, with their most ambitious project being the translation of the New Testament and the Old Testament into Dakota. Although portions of the Bible were translated and published in the Dakota language earlier in the 1870's, this is the first printing of the complete Bible in the Dakota language.Previous owner's name neatly inscribed on front endpaper, and stamped on front free endpaper and in upper fore corner of title page; else a beautiful clean, tight copy with some light wear to edges. An exceptional copy of this rare and important work.

Inventory Number: 44677Sold -- Contact us