1876 CREE PSALMS James Hunter Translator Presentation Copy Indigenous Language For Sale

London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1876.

Scarce nineteenth-century Cree-language edition of the Psalms, translated by the Ven. Archdeacon James Hunter (1817–1882), with a highly desirable 1877 presentation inscription stating that the volume was “Presented by The Translator.”

An important example of early Cree-language printing and nineteenth-century biblical translation, rendered throughout in Romanized Cree orthography rather than syllabics.

The volume opens with an English “Key to the Orthography” explaining the pronunciation system employed in the text, followed by the complete Book of Psalms in Cree.

This copy has an unusually strong and interesting contemporary association.

On the preliminary leaf facing the title is written:

“To The Translator.
1877.”

The presentation is particularly significant because James Hunter himself was born in Barnstaple, Devon, in 1817, giving this copy a direct association with the translator’s hometown.

The volume subsequently belonged to the North Devon Athenæum, Barnstaple, whose oval institutional ink stamps appear on the title and preliminary leaves.

An early manuscript note on the front endpaper likewise records:

“Presented by the Translator to the North Devon Athenaeum.”

Although the presentation inscription is not signed with Hunter’s name, its wording identifies the donor as “The Translator.” The copy is therefore properly described as a translator’s presentation copy, rather than a signed copy.

Of particular interest, the printed academic designation “M.A.” following Hunter’s name on the title page has been deliberately struck through and “D.D.” added in manuscript.

Hunter received the Lambeth degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Archbishop of Canterbury on 4 August 1876, the same year this edition was published. The Dictionary of Canadian Biography likewise records the conferral of his D.D. in 1876.

Since this particular copy was presented the following year, in 1877, the manuscript correction updates Hunter’s printed title to reflect his newly conferred doctorate.

Especially interesting is that the correction appears to be in the same ink as the presentation inscription. This raises the possibility that the title-page alteration and presentation inscription were made as part of the same presentation event. That small correction is a subtle but compelling feature of this copy.

James Hunter served as a Church Missionary Society clergyman in Rupert’s Land and became closely involved in Cree-language missionary and translation work.

His linguistic work developed during his years in the Canadian Northwest, where he learned Cree and participated in a broader translation enterprise involving Henry Budd, the pioneering Indigenous Anglican clergyman and translator, and Hunter’s wife Jean Ross Hunter, herself a fluent Cree speaker who assisted with biblical translation and produced translations of her own.

Hunter’s Cree publications form an important chapter in the history of Indigenous-language printing, missionary linguistics, and biblical translation in nineteenth-century Canada.

The present edition is especially notable for its use of Roman characters rather than the Cree syllabic system that became widespread in many contemporary missionary publications.

The title reads:

NIKUMOOWE MUSSINÀHIKUN.
The Book of Psalms,
Translated into the Language
of the
Cree Indians of North-West America,
by the
Ven. Archdeacon Hunter, M.A.,
Late Archdeacon of Cumberland, Rupert’s Land.
London:
British and Foreign Bible Society,
Queen Victoria Street.
1876.

In this copy, the printed “M.A.” has been struck through and “D.D.” supplied in manuscript.

London: British and Foreign Bible Society, 1876.

271 pages.

Approximately 17 cm tall.

Attractively rebound in quarter red morocco leather over marbled paper boards, the spine with raised bands and small gilt accents.

The marbled paper is particularly attractive, with blue, ochre, pink, black, and red patterning.

Plain endpapers.

Text printed throughout in Romanized Cree, preceded by an English orthographic key.

Very Good overall.

The later binding is attractive, tight, and sound. The red morocco spine remains supple and well preserved, with only light rubbing and minor shelf wear. Marbled boards remain bright and appealing, with modest wear consistent with age.

Internally generally very clean and well preserved, with light age toning and occasional minor spotting or handling marks.

Several historical North Devon Athenæum / Barnstaple institutional ink stamps appear on the title and preliminary leaves, including the orthography leaf. These are part of the documented provenance of the volume.

The 1877 presentation inscription remains clear and legible.

The printed “M.A.” on the title page has been struck through and “D.D.” supplied in manuscript, almost certainly to update Hunter’s academic designation following the conferral of his doctorate in 1876.

Early manuscript note to the front endpaper records the volume as having been presented by the translator to the North Devon Athenæum.

No significant tears or losses observed. Binding and text block are sound.

Please examine all photographs carefully for the best indication of condition.

A scarce and appealing example of nineteenth-century Cree-language printing, with interest across several collecting fields: Cree and Indigenous languages; Canadian and Rupert’s Land history; missionary printing; Bible translation; linguistics; Church Missionary Society history; Indigenous-language typography; and nineteenth-century religious printing.

The 1877 translator’s presentation inscription, Hunter’s own Barnstaple origins, the North Devon Athenæum provenance, and the contemporary manuscript correction of his degree from M.A. to D.D. give this copy substantially more association interest than an ordinary example.

The title-page correction is especially notable because Hunter’s D.D. was conferred only in August 1876, making the manuscript alteration and 1877 presentation closely contemporaneous.

A particularly desirable presentation copy of an uncommon early Cree-language biblical translation, with a compelling association to Hunter’s hometown and an apparently contemporary correction reflecting his newly conferred doctorate.

Author: James Hunter
Title: Nikumoowe Mussinàhikun / The Book of Psalms
Publisher: British and Foreign Bible Society
Place of Publication: London
Date: 1876
Language: Cree, with English orthographic key
Subject: Cree language, Indigenous languages, Bible translation, Canadian history, Rupert’s Land
Binding: Quarter red morocco leather over marbled boards
Pages: 271
Provenance: Translator’s presentation copy, 1877; North Devon Athenæum, Barnstaple
Special Attributes: Presentation inscription; manuscript M.A.-to-D.D. correction; institutional provenance; Romanized Cree text; leather binding