An edition, therefore, was printed by kneeland for more than one bookseller, a practice not at all uncommon. Psalms were set to the meter of familiar tunes so the faithful could make a joyful noise, singing, for example, in the 23rd psalm. The the first book printed in north america, north of mexico, was the whole booke of psalmes, edited by richard mather, john eliot and others. Known as the bay psalm book, this book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, about 20 years after arrival of puritan colonists. The first book printed in america rare books digest. The whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book printed and designed by stephen daye in 1640. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. A book of psalms which is amongst the first books ever printed in a merica is on the way to become the most expensive book ever sold. The first bible printed in a european language in america is a bible in german, printed by christopher saur in germantown, pennsylvania in 1743. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The first book printed in british north america 1640, hardcover by haraszti, zoltan, isbn 0486805263, isbn 9780486805269, brand new, free shipping in the us the bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. 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. Bay psalm book, first book printed in america, sells for.
The history of books starts with the development of writing, and various other inventions such as paper and printing, and continues through to the modern day business of book printing. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry responsible for the dissemination of all manner of cultural material. The bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. The first book published in colonial america was the bay psalm book. Plymouth rock british north america mystery of history prefixes the rev celestial how to fall asleep american history revolutionaries. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by haraszti, zoltan. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. The bay psalm book is among the first printed in america.
The result was an american originalthe bay psalm book of 1640 a 148page volume printed on a press operated by the british settler stephen daye. In the first year he printed a broadsheet, the freemans oath and an almanack, and in 1640 printed the colonys first book, the bay psalm book. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in the american colonies. First book printed in british north america is now worlds. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england, he said. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the bay psalm book.
Printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm is one of the rarest books in the world and among the finest surviving copies of original 1,700 that were printed. According to the website of the cambridge reformed presbyterian church the book was published in 1640 in what is now cambridge, massachusetts in a print shop now long gone, located in what is today harvard square. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. States first published year or first published in america year. A rare copy of the first book ever printed in america a collection of psalms produced in cambridge, mass. Published in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640 by stephen daye, the bay psalm book was a collection of holy songs translated from the old testaments hebrew into english.
This humble and wellworn hymnal was printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye, first printer of the massachusetts bay colony. History of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. First printed book in america expected to fetch up. Saurs bible was the luther version, a reprint of the 34th edition halle 1741 with the books of 3 and 4 esdras and 3 maccabees supplied from the berlenberg bible of 172642. It was, nevertheless, the first full venture of printing in british north america, and this.
Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made. A famous psalter the first book printed in america 1640 anthem a throughcomposed religious song usually with biblical text for performance by a choir rather than congregation. For me a table thou hast spread in presence of my foes thou dost anoint my head with oil my cup it over flows. It was the first book printed in british north america. First book printed in america book print, book of psalms. Printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm is one of the rarest books in the world and among the finest surviving copies of.
Instead, they printed a devotionalsong book, the bay psalm book of 1640. The initial print run in 1640 was 1700 copies of a 37 page quarto, and was sold exclusively at hezekiah ushers bookstore, the first one in america. 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. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it.
The edition was filled with typos and errors letters backwards, pages printed out of order which was a testament to the inexperience of the printers. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. The earliest history of books actually predates what would conventionally be called books today and begins with tablets, scrolls, and sheets of papyrus. The churchs historian says the book is simply not theirs to sell. The result was an american originalthe bay psalm book of 1640a 148page volume printed on a press operated by the british settler stephen daye. First book printed in america, bay psalms book newslagoon.
Only 11 of the original 1,600 copies of the book printed in cambridge in 1640 remain. First, like many aspiring authors, once i had an idea on paper, i looked for anyone else i knew who had successfully written a book to ask for their advice. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and. One hundred and one years earlier juan pablos, in mexico, had issued the first book printed in north america, and also the first book printed in the. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims. Book believed to be first one printed in the us sells for. The decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south church in boston.
The first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american. First book printed in america, bay psalms book newslagoon a book of psalms which is amongst the first books ever printed in america is on the way to become the most expensive book ever sold. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. Louis postdispatch reports the bay psalm book was the first book made in what would become the united. Known as the bay psalm book, but really titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, it represents what was most sacred to the puritansa faithful translation of gods word, to be sung in worship by the entire congregation. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after the mayflower left plymouth, england. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Early english bibles bibles in the american colonies. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america.
The first book of jewish authorship printed in america. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. The first book printed in british north america and a. In fact, the first book printed in english north america contained a translation of the psalms. A nondescript battered book filled with spelling errors just became the worlds most expensive printed book. The book in question is one of the 1,700 copies printed in the year 1640 by the pilgrims who had come from england and settled in plymouth, massachusetts.
It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. A book of psalms which is amongst the first books ever printed in america is on the way to become the most expensive book ever sold. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. First book printed in north america displayed in st. First book of jewish authorship printed in a merica 233 the same printing done for b. The bay psalm book, printed in an original edition of 1,700 in cambridge in 1640 by stephen daye, was intended as a closer paraphrase of the.
Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in a merica, and the first book written in america. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The bay psalm book was first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts by stephen daye, a locksmith whose name does not appear on the title page but who is nevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies of america. He received 300 acres of land from the colony for his work, which he promptly mortgaged for a cow, a calf, and a heifer. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made in north america, it was also the first book written in north america, north of mexico. It already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. The preface to the bay psalm book was written by john. According to msn, one of the 11 surviving copies of the. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The presence of the number 1 with few exceptions indicates a first printing. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. It takes a village to write a first book in your 40s, and i was lucky to have two copilots and a big ground crew. 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. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in what became the united states and this copy is owned by the old south church in boston.
Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. Abebooks visits americas first printed book youtube. What was the first book printed in the american colonies. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. First edition identification by publisher ag book collecting tips. A book of puritan psalms produced in 1640 will be on display in st. The bay book of psalms, 1640 it contains gods name, jehovah. 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. David redden, director of special projects and worldwide chairman of sothebys books department, commented. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. The first book printed in british north america, 1640. However, portions of biblical text were printed in the colonies.
Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. In fact, it was not until 1640 that the first book was printed in america. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. Because the printers were not trained typographers, the book is rife with typos, plagued with spacing errors, and crudely laid. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after.