It was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Media caption bostons old south church sings psalm 100 from the. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil. Americas hesitation over hymns christian history magazine. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. 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. Sermons back to latest sermons psalms dec 25, 2012 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 addressed this warning by translating the hebrew psalms of david into idiomatic, metrical english to be sung by the entire congregation both in church and at home. 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. Old south church in boston to sell rare psalmbook, stirring dissent.
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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, 1956. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Salem church decided that the bay psalm book should be. Media caption bostons old south church sings psalm 100 from the bay psalm book in the past it would simply have been its the first book printed. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new york. 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 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. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english.
Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. It plans to sell one to raise money for renovations. He convinced the members of the congregation of the need to produce a revised, more scholarly, edition of the bay psalm book. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. A copy belonging to bostons old south church will be auctioned by sothebys on nov. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Dec 02, 20 the key date for the bay psalm books backstory is not 1621 but 1630, the year john winthrop, simon and anne bradstreet, and other puritans arrived in boston harbor on the arbella. 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 the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength publication in. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states.
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. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. 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. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history.
Nov 27, 20 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. The volume was the bay psalm booka literary monument of the cultural and religious aspirations of the early settlers of the country. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. The bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states. 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 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. Prince was a clergyman at the old south church in boston.
Rubenstein said, i appreciate the hard work of jim billington and the library of congress professionals in organizing this exhibition. The two psalters most widely used were the bay psalm book. Old south church in boston, massachusetts, sold to benefit its mission and ministries 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. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Nov 25, 20 media caption bostons old south church sings psalm 100 from the bay psalm book in the past it would simply have been its the first book printed in america, and not so much what it contained. Last week, bostons old south church voted 274 to sell one of its two remaining copies of the 1640 bay psalm bookone of the most historic volumes in american religious history.
Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. 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 bay psalm book, printed in 1640 by stephen daye, was the first book printed in the what became the united states. Old south church in boston, ma an open and affirming. A congregation of the united church of christ, our doors are open to everyone. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Only 11 of the 1,700 copies printed in 1640 of the bay psalm book are known to survive, and the old south church in the heart of boston owns. The bay psalm book is a book of many firststhe first englishlanguage book in north america, the first book of american poetry, and the first instance in a long and vital history of printing in america. The key date for the bay psalm books backstory is not 1621 but 1630, the year john winthrop, simon and anne bradstreet, and other puritans arrived in boston harbor on the arbella. Old south churchs copy of the bay psalm book is currently housed in the rare books department. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church. The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. Ten copies of the first edition of the bay psalm book are known to be extant.
Today just 11 are known to exist, and bostons historic old south church is selling one of its two copies at sothebys auction. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. 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 book, which was written by the puritans, was put on the block by bostons old south church. 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. Salem church decided that the bay psalm book should be made use of together with ainsworths.
The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. 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. Nov 16, 20 the bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. Church torn over future of precious asset the boston globe. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Until 20, when one copy was sold at auction to david rubenstein, old south church owned two of the eleven firstedition copies. Old south church is a vibrant, multicultural, theologically progressive christian church. Psalms books of the bible south woods baptist church. Old south church in boston owns 2 of the 11 firstedition copies of the bay psalm book, printed in 1640, still known to exist. Members of old south church, which owns two of the 11 surviving first editions of the bay psalm book, will vote sunday on a controversial proposal to sell one of the 17th century books to pay for. Nov 25, 20 image caption old south church in boston will retain one of its two bay psalm books and although the massachusetts bay puritans were not separatists or democrats, their pioneering spirit and quest. Unfortunately, princes version was not accepted outside of his membership and in 1789, the old south church reverted to the earlier edition published by isaac. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free.
Image caption old south church in boston will retain one of its two bay psalm books and although the massachusetts bay puritans were not separatists. These people had been part of the church of england in one way or another but were on their way to what would become congregationalism in new england. The new england primer offered every child and apprentice the chance to learn to read the catechism and a set of moral precepts. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m.
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 two psalters most widely used were the bay psalm book 1640 and sternhold and hopkinss whole book of psalms the old version, 1562. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. Strange that men, from age to age, should consent to hold their lives at the breath of another, merely that each in his turn may have a power of acting the tyrant according to the law. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Put together in cambridge in the 1600s, its now the worlds most. Eight years later, the church voted to try tate and brady but instead continued to sing from the bay psalm book. 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. Nov 27, 20 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. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity.
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. Bostons old south church is selling a copy of the historic volume. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. The bay psalm book had been compiled by a group of new england divines and was employed in nearly every puritan church of the massachusetts bay colony.
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