This humble and wellworn hymnal was printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye, first printer of the massachusetts bay colony. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Boston september 1690 publick occurrences, both foreign and domestick,the first newspaper published in america, was printed by richard pierce and edited by benjamin harris in boston on september 25, 1690. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in a merica, and the first book written in america. 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. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. 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. The next year, 1641, daye was rewarded for his work with three hundred acres of land. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, printed by stephen daye, cambridge, massachusetts, 1640. The buyer of the bay psalm book, as it is known, was david m. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by haraszti, zoltan. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by zoltan haraszti author. 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. Only 11 of the original 1,600 copies of the book printed in cambridge in 1640 remain.
It was the first book printed in british north america. First produced in 1640, just 20 years after the pilgrims landed at plymouth, there are only 11 surviving copies. 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. New york a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in whats now the united states, sold for just under. An unabridged compilation of the enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltaan haraszti originally published by the university of chicago press in 1956 and the bay psalm book, first published in 1640 title page verso. The the first book printed in north america offsite link, north of mexico, was the whole booke of psalmes. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The preface is possibly by mather, but could be by john cotton.
A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the bay psalm book. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. It is the very first book printed in what is now the united states. 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. What was the first book printed in the american colonies. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. He is the author of the everything american presidents book and colonial life.
Book believed to be first one printed in the us sells for. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. Both books are encompassed in this single volume, offering readers and collectors a personal edition of a major icon of book history and a great artifact of american culture. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after. Bookprinted material, 1640 to 1649 library of congress. 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 first book printed in british north america, 1640.
Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. 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. A gallery in new york that deals in rare books said yesterday that it was in possession of the first item ever printed on a press in america the onepage oath of a freeman, which is said to have been printed in cambridge, mass. Men shall say of succeeding plantations, may the lord make it like that of new england. 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. First book printed in america book print, book of psalms. It is thought to be the first book printed in what became the united states. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. Translated by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, among others. The bay book of psalms, 1640 it contains gods name, jehovah.
The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. Zoltan haraszti, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p. Abebooks visits americas first printed book youtube.
Memory gallery a american treasures of the library of. Instead, they printed a devotionalsong book, the bay psalm book of 1640. First book printed in america, bay psalms book newslagoon. The first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. Til about the bay psalm book, the first book printed in british north america. The activity has grown from small beginnings into a vast and complex industry responsible for the dissemination of all manner of cultural material. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book.
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. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. The bay psalm book 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. 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. 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. 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. English americas first book, published in 1640 on a printing press near. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america, in 1640 will. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and. History of publishing, an account of the selection, preparation, and marketing of printed matter from its origins in ancient times to the present.
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. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. Middlecott cooke, who had graduated from harvard with an a. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made. Since our founding in 1992, first book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from lowincome families. This is the first copy of americas first book to appear at auction since. 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. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. The bay psalm book printed in cambridge massachusetts, 1640. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it.
With an overwhelming 271 to 34 vote, the church decided to give its board the power to sell one copy of the bay psalm book, the first book ever printed in. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one of only. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. 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.
In 1640, he printed the bay psalm book, the first book published in the american colonies. It was the first book printed on the puritan minister joseph glovers press, the first such device to make the journey across the atlantic. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay. Consequently, daye must have printed pierces almanac prior to the english first of the year that began on march 15. Til about the bay psalm book, the first book printed in. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 hardcover august 17, 2016 by zoltan haraszti author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The first book printed in north america was the whole booke of psalmes, commonly known as the bay psalm book. The first newspapers in america publick occurences, both foreign and domestick. The bay psalm book is among the first printed in america. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The original cover of the 1640 bay psalm book in the library of congress collections.
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