Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. First book ever printed in america valued at a record. 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 first book published in north america by the puritans in the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the united states, was sold on tuesday at sothebys in manhattan. In the fall, sothebys took the copy of the book that just sold for a recordbreaking price on. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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 psalms in it are metrical translations into english. One of 11 surviving copies of the bay psalm book has sold.
They are a onesizefitsall solution to the problem of what to buy for a loved one. A book is also a considerate option when giving to an acquaintance such as a coworker. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. Trial in theft of rare books points to a wide network. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. The book went through more than fifty editions and stayed in print for 125 years. 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. The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a.
They are items that provide hours of enjoyment for the recipient. 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. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. Rumour has it that there are only 11 copies of the book remaining, one of which was sold at auction in 20 for. It was the first book printed in british north america. Worlds most expensive book sold at sothebys auction for. Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. Michelle obama may stay above the fray as she returns to political life. 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 and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. The two previous sales of the the bay psalm book were the most expensive book sale at the time. Bay psalm book by richard mather 2011, paperback for. Thats because its not any old book its one of 11 remaining copies of the bay psalm. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Rare books have been fetching increasingly high prices at auction. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The churchs historian says the book is simply not theirs to sell. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The bay psalm book is probably best known for being the first printed book in british north america and it was first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
More than 1,700 versions of the book were rolled out. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The first book printed in what is now the united states, a copy of the bay psalm book, was sold by sothebys in new york on tuesday for just under. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work became the most expensive printed book after it was. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book 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. Former first lady michelle obama will be reading childrens books in a weekly. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Learn more about the bay psalm book and the first printing press in the new world. For the third time in 4 years, this will be the worlds most.
As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. Generalinterest fiction and nonfiction books that are sold in hardback or largeformat paperback editions. Scholars find the ainsworth psalter much more interesting than the bay psalm. 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. The edition was filled with typos and errors letters backwards, pages printed out of order which was a. 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. The first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. The church handed it over to the city of boston for safe keeping in 1866. Bay psalm book high resolution scan from first printed in 1640 cambridge, massachusetts by stephen day and jose antonio, garcia r. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. Thats a wrap the battered bay psalm book is just 6in by 5in, riddled with printing errors and poorly bound. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston.
These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Sothebys took the copy of the book that just sold for a recordbreaking. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books. Most expensive book sold at an auction, for 14,2 millions us dollars on november 26, 20. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. These workers clocked out after 28 days on the job. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The tiny hymnal was printed in 1640 by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Railroad baron henry huntington purchased it in 1910.
Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. Bay psalm book the worlds most expensive book that sold. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century.
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