The first book printed in america in 1640 was a psalter the

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. Read the fascinating history of the bibles of colonial america, from the mysterious bibles of boston, to robert aitken, isaac collins, isaiah thomas, and matthew carey. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and. 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. Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. American history library of congress rare books and. Its a book that was not created to be fancy or splendid or valuable in any way other than the significance of its content, says derick dreher, the director of philadelphias rosenbach library, one of the few institutions to hold a bay psalm book. Its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a. The next thing printed was the psalms newly turned into metre, which was finished at the press in. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the.

The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the bay psalm book. In fact, the first book printed in america was a psalter, the bay psalm book, printed in 1640. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. 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. A 1612 psalter for english separatists was taken to america by the pilgrims of 1620, and the bay psalm book was published there in 1640the first book printed in the new world. 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. It was printed on a printing press brought over from england. The first complete english metrical psalter and the first to include musical notation was the psalter of dauid newely translated into englysh metre in such sort that it maye the more decently, and wyth more delyte of the mynde, be reade and songe of al men. The library of congress has an outstanding collection of research materials in american history. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Originally published in 1640 as the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre.

It was the first book printed in british north america. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first. It already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. It was, nevertheless, the first full venture of printing in british north america, and this. The bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti overdrive rakuten. The bay psalm book was the first book known to be printed in british north america. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay.

Psalm 98 bay psalm book, 1640, by thomas ravenscroft ca. The preface to the bay psalm book was written by john. Davids psalter, a translation of the book of psalms into polish by jan kochanowski, 1579. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of psalms also known as the bay psalm book, the first book printed in british north america. Printed in 1549, it was the work of robert crowley and was printed by him, richard grafton andor stephen mierdman. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book.

English psalters, influenced by the french, appeared in 1562, 1564, 1621, 1671, and 1696. This facsimile of a rare first edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which provides an academic study of the psalters history and contents. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The bay psalms book brown leather biblical heritage. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. 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. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. 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. 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 book is a psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. It thus had the honour, according to thomas prince, of being the first book printed in north america. 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. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. No new nation was ever created as deliberately or as fast as the nation established between 1630 and 1640 by a wave of settlers who selfconsciously established a new england with a distinctive and highly developed intellectual purpose, carried out. The first book published in colonial america was the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.

This is the first copy of americas first book to appear at auction since. Library of congress rare books and special collections. 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. Bay psalm book, 1640, the first book printed in british north. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The book is a metrical psalter first printed for puritan worship service in cambridge massachusetts in 1640. Around 1800, many began to include hymns in their songbooks, but still usually with the psalms given place of preference, being placed in. 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 rarest of these books, pamphlets, broadsides, and material in other formats reside in the rare book and special collections division. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. 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 founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. 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.

Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. Printed in 1640, the bay psalm book is considered to be the first book printed in what became the united states. Beginning with the european exploration and discovery of the. Colonists came seeking religious freedom, so the first book they printed was not a political tract or even a bible, but a hymnal. Americas first book, from 1640, in cleveland library 6. If youve ever dug into the puritans in any manner, youve come across something called the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america.

It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The bay psalm book was published in massachusetts in 1640 the first book published in america and ultimately replaced the ainsworth psalter. The bay psalm book is among the first printed in america. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by haraszti, zoltan. The first book printed in british north america, 1640. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers. His psalter was carried across the atlantic in the mayflower and used by the pilgrims who settled in plimouth, massachusetts in 1620. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sothebys will auction one of the 11. This book is a facsimile reprint of the first edition printed in 1640 by stephen daye at cambridge, mass. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. 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 bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival.

Both books are encompassed in this single volume, offering readers and collectors a. The translations are not particularly polished, and. The psalms are set to a metrical translation in english, not particularly polished or easily articulated they were largely incapacitated in colonial worship services. The book went through several editions and remained in use for well over a century. The psalms were the songs of protestantism until around 1800. The intended use of the bay psalm book tells us why it was americas first book. One of 11 surviving copies of the first book printed in america, the bay psalm book of 1640, will be shown at the cleveland main library on wednesday, on its way to auction in november.