Digital bay psalm book

The translations are not particularly polished, and. Click on image or caption above to see image in the zoom viewer. 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 rendered into meter, enabling them to be sung to wellknown tunes of the day. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to. The bay psalm book, which is the first book printed in what is now the united states, comes from the old south church in boston, one of two copies of the book in its collection. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Ian christiemiller, with a foreword by kevin cattrell.

These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. 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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. Bay psalm book high resolution scan from first printed in 1640 cambridge, massachusetts by stephen day and jose antonio, garcia r. In this format, users are able to zoom in to examine each individual page, the quality of the paper and printing, marginalia, notes, and other marks accrued over the centuries. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia.

New york, 12 april 20 on 26 november 20, sothebys new york will auction one of the finest surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states of america. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. Kindle direct publishing indie digital publishing made easy prime now free 2hour delivery on everyday items. 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. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a closer paraphrase of. But the bay psalm book, as it is known, has a special place in bibliophiles hearts, so much so that michael inman, the curator of rare books at the new york public library, said the auction was likely to set a record, even though the bay psalm book was not a particularly attractive book and was rather shoddily done. One of the greatest artifacts of american history, the whole booke of psalmes, commonly known as the bay psalm book, will be auctioned at 7pm on the 26th day of this month at sothebys in new york.

The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. The digital bay psalm book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames, kevin cattrell published by the university of alabama press christiemiller, ian, et al. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. The more accurate news stories describe the bay psalm book as the first book printed in english in the new world. The bay psalm book appeared the following year in an edition of perhaps as many as 1700 copies, a large number given the. Title from the bay psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed.

Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. Mlm405 640b request the physical item to view in our reading room description. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. The work of thirty ministers, it was published only twenty years after the pilgrims came to america, making it the first book printed in british north america.

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. Old south church in boston owns 2 of the 11 firstedition copies of the bay psalm book, printed in 1640, still known to exist. 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 vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. 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. The 6by5inch hymnal book s estimated value was raised by 10 million dollars since the end of last year when we first ran a feature on the sale. In recent years, a new generation of scholars has returned to the book, seeing it from fresh perspectivesas a social document, for example, and as a physical artifact of early american life in the massachusetts bay area. The initial work issued from the press was a broadside, a freemans oath, which appeared in early 1639, followed shortly thereafter by an almanac. The mystique of the bay psalm book this is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction.

It plans to sell one to raise money for renovations. That would break records and make it the worlds most expensive printed book. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. This is a good example of the puritan notion of exclusive psalmody singing just the psalms. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The bay psalm book by michael inman, curator, rare book division, stephen a. The bay psalm book is a psalter that was first printed in 1640, at cambridge, massachusetts.

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 first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. It was the first book printed in british north america. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. The bay psalm book is a simple thing, containing psalms translated from. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. 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. If youve ever dug into the puritans in any manner, youve come across something called the bay psalm book. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book.

It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book. The following is the preface to the bay psalm book.

First book printed in what is now the united states. The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a. 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. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book created by ian christiemiller introduction by wilberforce eames.

The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. 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. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. The singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. 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. 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. Until quite recently american scholars unaware that a printing press was operating in mexico city well before the bay colony was founded called it the first book printed in the new world. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english.