HISTORIC 1861 CREE BIBLE, FIRST COMPLETE EDITION IN SYLLABICS

[William Mason, Sophia Mason, H. Steinhauer, J. Sinclaire, et al, translators]. [Bible in Cree]. ᑲᓈᒋ ᑭᐦᒋ ᒪᓯᓈᐦᐃᑲᐣ. [Kanachi kichi masinaikan, kayasi testement, mina oski testement, ketipeyichikeminow mina kipimachiyiweminos Chisas Knist / emisko-chiitasinahat neiyawewinik issi, William Mason, ayamiewikimaw..] [The Great Holy Book. Old Testament and New Testament, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, William Mason, minister]. London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1861. Printed by W.M. Watts, Crown Court, Temple Bar.

8vo, [4], 855, [4], 292 pages. Printed in Cree syllabary. New Testament with separate title page and pagination. Original EMBOSSED calf, smooth spine in 6 compartments, gilt lettered in 1. FIRST EDITION. Checklist of North and Middle American Indian Lignustics, Cree 6; Darlow & Moule 3130; Pilling, Algonquin p. 339; Sabin 36973. 

Although translations of the Gospels were printed throughout the 1850s and a New Testament was printed in 1859, this is the first complete bible printed in Cree. The New and Old Testaments were also issued separately from this printing. 

Pilling notes that, "although the three works last titled have the name of Rev. Wm. Mason on their respective title-pages, denial has been made in a number of instances that they were translated by him," followed by a multi-page quotation. 

William Mason (1816-1893) and his wife, Sophia Thomas Mason (1805-1861), were English missionaries who spent years among the Cree, acquiring an intimate knowledge of the language. Sophia in particular, spoke Cree with fluency and was an adept translator. Though afflicted by pulmonary illness, she completed her translations of the last three months of the Old Testament just three months before she died. 

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