Digital bay psalm books

What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. This bay psalm book is a facsimile of the first edition, the earliest printed english work in colonial 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 translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived. The bay psalm books historical significance is keenly felt at the old south church, where founding father benjamin franklin was baptised and meetings. The bay psalm book by michael inman, curator, rare book division, stephen a. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the library of congress. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Nov 27, 20 the translation of the biblical psalms, the bay psalm book, is seen at sothebys in new york. Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book became precious not just because it was first, but because it was read nearly to death.

Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. A book is also a considerate option when giving to an acquaintance such as a coworker. 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. Nov 25, 20 the bay psalm books historical significance is keenly felt at the old south church, where founding father benjamin franklin was baptised and meetings that led to the boston tea party were hosted. The bay psalm book became precious not just because it was first, but because it was read nearly to death. It was the first book printed 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 english and casting the text into verse for singing. Two bay psalm books on exhibit at the library of congress sightseers in washington, d. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book created by ian christiemiller introduction by wilberforce eames. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The bay psalm book and early moments in american printing. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book.

Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items. They are a onesizefitsall solution to the problem of what to buy for a loved one. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition wilberforce eames snippet view 1912. 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. Ian christiemiller, with a foreword by kevin cattrell. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. 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. Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. 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 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. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version.

The original calf binding, with traces of two clasps, is present. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Check out the new look and enjoy easier access to your favorite features.

The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. This summer, the library of congress provides yet another option with its excellent new exhibit, first among many. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. The book went through several editions and remained in use for well over a century.

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. Bay psalm book from the american imprint collection at the library of congress. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. 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 whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. 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.

Recently, the new york public library digitized in its entirety one of its great treasures. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. Many of the destroyed copies may have become something else over time. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first 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. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of 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. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. 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. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale.

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. 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 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. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. They are items that provide hours of enjoyment for the recipient. The whole booke of psalms faithfully translated into english metre. The enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, 1956. 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 translations are not particularly polished, and. 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. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts.

Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. The bay psalm book murder by harriss, will and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. The psalms in it are metrical translations into 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. The translation of the biblical psalms, the bay psalm book, is seen at sothebys in new york. The book was printed by puritan settlers in cambridge, mass. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books.

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 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. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. 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. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. 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. Bay psalm book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks.