The divine name is found in the bay psalm book, the first. The worlds most expensive book abebooks shop for books. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and materials of printing to the new colony. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the. In 1640, the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre was published in cambridge. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrim fathers in massachusetts. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. The book went through several editions and remained in use for well over a century. The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in plymouth in 1620, the magnitude of the effort and. Originally, the colonys residents looked to a committee of thirty men led by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to translate all 150 psalms from hebrew into english.
This copy, from the john carter brown library, is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist and one of only four perfect copies. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. It already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. The bay psalm book was the first book known to be printed in british north america. Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it also the most expensive book in the world. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. The first edition of the bay psalm book was one of the first books ever printed in the colonies and was a starting point in the forming of the puritan colony. Being the earliest new england version of the psalms and the first book printed in america richard mather on.
The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colony to live within the reformed church. Old south church considers selling first book published in north america video by dominique mosbergen a massachusetts church is considering selling its first edition copy of the first book published in north america, but the debate over the rare books sale has reportedly divided the historic churchs congregation. I am very desirous of obtaining one of the duplicate copies of the old bay psalm book belonging to the old south library, having a strong. The divine name is found in the bay psalm book, the first piece of literature published in englands american colonies. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one of. Ludlow and seven others came from the bay colony of massa. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. In a tiny pocketsize format with a psalm for every day of the year. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america.
It was the first full length book printed in the english speaking colonies, more closely mirrors the scriptural. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the us or from the uk, depending on stock availability. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil. The first book printed in british north america, 1640. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york.
Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The psalm book, written and printed by the puritans of massachusetts bay colony in 1640, was designed to allow a whole congregation to sing psalms together in church and at home. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english. The first american psalter lasted for over a century before becoming outdated and replaced by improved translations of the psalms. Its original edition printed in 1640 contains the psalms, translated from hebrew into the english of that day. An american icon, a piece of heroic history it was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a substantial introduction summarizing the creators philosophy and intentions, followed by translations of the psalms. Events bay psalm book printed timeline the association. It was the first book printed in british north america.
With the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons old south church is considering the sale of one of its two copies of the 1640 bay psalm book, i thought it was worth taking a look at the eleven known copies. Shurtleff, a boston physician, politician he was elected mayor in 1867, and book collector, proposed an exchange of books to loring lathrop, one of the deacons of old south. Recently, the new york public library digitized in its entirety one of its great treasures, the 1640 printing of the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The bay psalm book 1640 the bay psalm book is the first book printed in british north america. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the bay psalm book. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a. This facsimile of the rare original edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which offers an academic study of the psalters history and contents. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti. If one of the old southbpl copies is sold, it will be the first time since 1947 that a first edition has come to auction, and would be the first time a copy. The bay psalm book and early moments in american printing will open thursday, june 4, and will close on saturday, jan. Book of common prayer, faturan prayer beads, amber bakelite prayer beads, printed circuit boards pcbs, prayer plant, first communion prayer book, thomas kinkade garden of prayer, prayer scarf, anglican prayer beads, apostleship of prayer. Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. It holds the distinction of being the first book printed in america colonial america and has a bit of an interesting story, including being the highest selling book ever at auction. The auction firm estimated the sale price would be between.
This book was very successful and appeared in most colonist churches, and paved the. The psalms, metrical psalmody, and the psalter standard bearer. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Following the lead of john winthrops elevenvessel fleet that in the spring and summer of 1630 carried some 700 passengers to new england, between 1630 and 1640 about 20,000 english emigrants settled in the recently chartered massachusetts bay colony. Journalism and publishing libraries, books, and printing. The bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Being the earliest new england version of the psalms and the first book printed in america by richard mather isbn. Few of the new england churches could sing more than halfadozen tunes, and a pitchpipe was for a long time the only musical instrument allowed. With their new translation incorporating new hebrew scholarship, it became widely popular among the churches in massachusetts bay, hence the name bay psalm book.
The two psalters which were most widely used in england from the time of the reformation into the 1700s sternhold and hopkins, and tate and brady, both of which use rhyme with the metrical form and the bay psalm book the psalter of the new england puritans, and the first book published in north america insisted on accuracy at the expense of. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength publication in the north american colonies. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on anglo american soil. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect the various books, manuscripts and artwork at sothebys art auction house. Compiled by john eliot, richard mather, and thomas weld, and printed by stephen day at cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was intended to give a more literal translation of the hebrew psalms than that of the king james version. Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. But did you know that the bay psalm book was first printed in the colonies in 1640 and in reissues remained in use for over 100 years. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The bay psalm book was the common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed into metrical rhyme for congregational singing. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Sep 27, 20 printed in 1640, the bay psalm book is considered to be the first book printed in what became the united states. The present example comes from the collection of the old south church in the heart of boston. The bay psalm book is a book of many firststhe first englishlanguage book in north america, the first book of american poetry, and the first instance in a long and vital history of printing in america.
This book is for connecticut what the roll of battle abbey is for. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colonyto live within the reformed church. In 1698, the boston printers bartholomew green and john allen brought out a ninth edition of the bay psalm book. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at. You are looking at the bay psalm book printed in 1640, which sold at a sothebys auction for. Hello fellow wikipedians, i have just modified 2 external links on bay psalm book.
It is in very good condition, and has a sturdy feel to it. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old 100th. Jun 15, 2007 the bay psalm book was the common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Music had been printed in the new world as early as the 1540s in mexican service books, nearly a century before even the first bay psalm book of 1640. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Bay psalm book, believed to be first book printed in the. Printed in 1640, the bay psalm book is considered to be the first book printed in what became the united states. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and more literal than the most popular psalter. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world. It will go on display in libraries across the united states.
The celebration of this book is the impetus for the librarys exhibition. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. This book was originally published prior to 1923, and represents a reproduction of an important historical work. Aug 17, 2016 the founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers landed at plymouth rock. Book editing in the grand tradition of publishing a.
It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. One of only 11 surviving copies of bay psalm book the first tome printed in america in 1640 is to be sold by boston church maev kennedy wed 17. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Brown university library and the john carter brown library. This book is a facsimile reprint of the first edition printed in 1640 by stephen daye at cambridge, mass. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york.
Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. Miniature book of psalms by anonymous c1779 rooke books. He served as keeper of rare books and editor of publications at the boston. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition.
Its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Appears in 340 books from 17332007 page 175 philip and mary, by the grace of god, king and queen of england, france, naples, jerusalem, and ireland, defenders of the faith. Bay psalm book the earliest book known to have been printed in english in the british north american colonies. The exhibition will be free and open to the public from 8. The early residents of the massachusetts bay colony brought with them several books of psalms. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. The cardboard box will help to keep it in nice condition. With previous owners ink inscriptions to recto and verso of front free endpaper, one of j. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sothebys will auction one of the 11 surviving copies in the dedicated auction.
To i nsure accuracy the sketches were first read before the chap ters or the. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The book of common prayer 1801 printing in red leather boards. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by haraszti, zoltan. The story of the bay psalm book begins in england, with a band of separatists who desired the ability to. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america.
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