SMITH, JULIA E. [JULIA EVELINA SMITH PARKER]. THE HOLY BIBLE: containing the Old and New Testaments; translated literally from the original tongues
Hartford, CT, American Publishing Company, 1876, 1st edition. Royal 8vo, pp. 892, 276. Re-bound in modern brown buckram with the original brown cloth from the front board laid-down. Internally clean and tight. ¶ The Julia E. Smith Parker translation of the bible is considered to be the first complete translation of the bible into English by a woman. Smith (1793-1886) of Gastonbury, Connecticut, was a member of the Sandemanian sect founded in Scotland about 1730, which advocated the restoration of the apostolic church. As a child she acquired a working knowledge of Latin, Greek and Hebrew. At the age of 54, after having read the bible in its original languages, she commenced a literal translation, which she completed in 1855. The work is a strictly literal rendering; Smith always translating a Greek or Hebrew word into the same word in English, wherever possible. Smith completed this work, on her own, in eight years. Not only is this considered the first complete translation of the bible by a woman, but it is the only translation made by anyone - man or woman - without help. As Smith says, in her Preface: "It may be thought by the public in general, that I have great confidence in myself, in not conferring with the learned in so great a work, but as there is but one book in that Hebrew tongue, and I have defined it word for word, I do not see how anyone could know more about it than I do." In 1876, at 84 years of age, she finally sought publication (although she says in her Preface that this was not her intention when she began). The publication costs of $4,000 were underwritten by Smith and her sister Abby Smith. One thousand copies were printed and offered for sale at $2.50 each. See, Herbert, Historical Catalogue of Printed Bibles.

$4000.00 USD