CAMPANIUS HOLM, JOHAN, translator. 1601-1683.
Lutheri catechismus ofwersatt pa American-Virginiske Spraket. Stockholm: J.J. Genath, 1696.
[16], 160 pp. Engraved additional title. Section title for Mohawk vocabulary. 8vo (168 x 95 mm). Publisher's calf, blind-stamped on both covers and spine with the royal device and cypher of King Charles XI of Sweden; quarter morocco slipcase. Without map, pale browning to edges, few wormholes near gutter margin catching some letters, f.f.e. nearly detached, binding extremities and joints worn.
FIRST EDITION OF THE CATECHISM IN DELAWARE. Campanius was chaplain at the Swedish colony of Fort Christina in present-day Wilmington, Delaware for six years. He learned the native languages and founded the first Christian church in what is now Pennsylvania. His adaptation of Luther's Catechism for native use is rather free: in the Lord's Prayer the phrase "give us this day our daily bread" is replaced by "give us a plentiful supply of venison and corn." Pages 155-160 are a vocabulary of the Mohawk Indians. King Charles XI published this Catechism at his own expense and sent 500 copies to America. Ayer, Indian Linguistics 20a; Church 760; European Americana 696/151; Field 232; Pilling Iroquoian 24; Sabin 42726.
Provenance: inscription reading "Charles du Bois / The Gift of Mr John Oriot"; sold by Eberstadt in 1953 to Frank T. Siebert.
Acquisition: Siebert sale, Sotheby's New York, May 21, 1999, lot 478, $3,163.