Page 13 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript Americana - Sale 2310 - April 16, 2013

18 ● (AMERICAN INDIANS—SENECA.) [Wright, Asher.] Gowana Gwaih Sathah
Yon De Yas Dahgwah. A Spelling-Book in the Seneca Language. 16mo, modern
morocco gilt; minor dampstaining; uncut and partially unopened, later engraving of the
Seneca Mission House tipped to flyleaf; later owner’s inked stamp on rear free endpaper,
modern bookplate on front pastedown.
Buffalo Creek Reservation, NY: Mission Press, 1842 [1,200/1,800]
The earliest of just three known books from the Seneca Mission Press while at its original location
at the Buffalo Creek Reservation. “In its way one of the most interesting and scholarly works, as
it is one of the rarest, ever published in Buffalo”—Severance, Buffalo Imprints, page 587.
This book once belonged to the noted Seneca scholar Arthur Caswell Parker (1881-1955),
who was born on the Cattaraugus Reservation and later became president of the Society for
American Archaeology. His inked stamp is quite clever. It appears to read “Urwik Haoho
Tprto Rcesb Arkns,” which means as little in Seneca as in English. Reading it vertically and
starting from the bottom, though, it reads “Arthur C. Parker owns this book.”
Arthur Howland, “Seneca Mission at Buffalo Creek,” Publications of the Buffalo Historical
Society, page VI:159; Pilling, Iroquoian page 176; Sabin 105546; Streeter sale II:913. One
other copy known at auction since 1982, at the Siebert sale.
19 ● (AMERICAN INDIANS—SENECA.) [Wright, Asher.] Gaa Nah Shoh Ne De
o Waahsa o Nyoh Gwah Nawen Niyuh. 16mo, contemporary calf gilt presentation
binding, moderate wear, joints starting; front free endpaper and flyleaves coming detached,
moderate foxing; modern bookplate on front pastedown.
[Buffalo Creek Reservation, NY]: Seneca Mission Press, 1843 [1,200/1,800]
One of just three known books from the Seneca Mission Press while at its original location at
the Buffalo Creek Reservation. An edition of hymns in Seneca, expanded with an introduction
and index in English. This copy bears the gilt name of missionary Hanover Bradley (1795-
1874) on the front cover. In 1840, Bradley was serving as steward and farmer at the Seneca
Mission per “History of American Missions to the Heathen,” page 172.
According to Severance’s Buffalo Imprints, page 590, the only complete copy ever seen was
found in the cornerstone of a building that was torn down in 1901; that copy was placed back
in the cornerstone of the new building. Howland, “Seneca Mission at Buffalo Creek,”
Publications of the Buffalo Historical Society, page VI:159; Pilling, Iroquoian page 176; Sabin
105546. None known at auction since 1920; WorldCat reports 3 copies.
18 19