The whole booke of psalms faithfully translated into english metre. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. The bay psalm book and early moments in american printing. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the library of congress. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39.
This was the 3rd edition of the bay psalm book that was issued and given the new title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and the. The book was printed by puritan settlers in cambridge, mass. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book created by ian christiemiller introduction by wilberforce eames. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. The original calf binding, with traces of two clasps, is present. Wilberforce eames in 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a group of local religious leadersincluding, it is thought, richard mather, john cotton, and richard eliotset about. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Bay psalm book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.
The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The book is a psalter, or a volume containing metrical translations of the book of psalms. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version.
Dec 01, 2003 the first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Recently, the new york public library digitized in its entirety one of its great treasures. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. They are a onesizefitsall solution to the problem of what to buy for a loved one. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. They are items that provide hours of enjoyment for the recipient. As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer meticulously rendered photographs of the 7.
Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. What is the bay psalm book 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. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book by michael inman, curator, rare book division, stephen a. It was the first book printed in british north america.
Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. The main thing you need to know right now about the bay psalm book is that a copy of it is up for public sale for the first time since 1947. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. The book became popularly known as the bay psalm book, named after the massachusetts bay colony in which its translatorsamong them the ministers john cotton and richard matherlived. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody.
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. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. The enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, 1956. Many of the destroyed copies may have become something else over time. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. The volume was the bay psalm booka literary monument of the cultural and religious aspirations of the early settlers of the country. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books. A committee of thirty learned elders, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot, set about the task of creating a new translation of the 150 hebrew psalms into english and casting the text into verse for singing. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. The bay psalm books historical significance is keenly felt at the old south church, where founding father benjamin franklin was baptised and meetings. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. 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. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. Two bay psalm books on exhibit at the library of congress sightseers in washington, d. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b.
Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. A book is also a considerate option when giving to an acquaintance such as a coworker. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony.
The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english. 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. Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book became precious not just because it was first, but because it was read nearly to death. Description the bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. The translation of the biblical psalms, the bay psalm book, is seen at sothebys in new york. 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. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. 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 first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. 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 metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The bay psalm book became precious not just because it was first, but because it was read nearly to death.
The volume was sold for twenty pence, and the 1640 edition was immediately adopted by nearly every congregation in the southern part of massachusetts bayhence the volumes familiar name. Opens june 4 a new exhibition at the library of congress will tell the story of early printing in the american colonies, spanning 100 years, as printing evolved from a colonial necessity to the clarion of freedom. The work, entitled the whole booke of palsmes faithfully translated into english metre, was published in seventeen hundred copies, of which only eleven survivefive complete and the others lacking a varying. Bay psalm book from the american imprint collection at the library of congress. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The book went through several editions and remained in use for well over a century. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. 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. 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.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The translations are not particularly polished, and. 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. This summer, the library of congress provides yet another option with its excellent new exhibit, first among many.
The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. 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 is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition wilberforce eames snippet view 1912. This bay psalm book is a facsimile of the first edition, the earliest printed english work in colonial america. Ian christiemiller, with a foreword by kevin cattrell. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. A committee of thirty learned elders, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot, set about the task of creating a new translation of the 150 hebrew psalms into. The bay psalm book murder by harriss, will and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Nov 27, 20 the translation of the biblical psalms, the bay psalm book, is seen at sothebys in new york. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy.
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