The story of the bay psalm book one of the fundamental changes in church services shaped by the reformation was the introduction of psalmsinging by the entire congregation, rather than just by a. Old south church in boston to sell rare psalmbook, stirring. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in plymouth in 1620, the magnitude of the effort and. The story of the bay psalm book one of the fundamental changes in church services shaped by the reformation was the introduction of psalm singing by the entire congregation, rather than just by a. About 7 inches high and 4 inches wide, it is largely undecorated. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Diarmaid maccullogh is professor of the history of the church at the university of oxford. Featured texts all books all texts latest this just in smithsonian libraries fedlink us genealogy lincoln collection. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday.
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 played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The mystique of the bay psalm book this is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. Under stephen dayes supervision, copies were printed by samuel green on the first printing press in. If youve ever dug into the puritans in any manner, youve come across something called the bay psalm book. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. It plans to sell one to raise money for renovations. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Ever in the interest of preserving history salem witch museum senior staff received board approval to bid on the previously unknown seventh edition mass bay psalm book signed by elizabeth corwin, wife of salem witch trials judge jonathan corwin. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Bay psalm book high resolution scan from first printed in 1640 cambridge, massachusetts. Of inestimable significance, the bay psalm book is not simply one of the great icons of book history, it is one of the greatest artifacts of. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking 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 for instance, old 100th. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. 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. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. 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. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Equally formidable was the story of printing the bible. Do you know who president franklin delano roosevelt appointed as secretary of labor in 1933.
Bay psalm book, and americas first printing press boston. Dec 04, 20 commonly known as the bay psalm book, this book was the product of the new england puritans desire to retranslate the psalms from the original hebrew text. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. The puritan translation and printing of the whole booke of psalmes was not simply coincident with the founding of americain a very real way. 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 bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. The more accurate news stories describe the bay psalm book as the first book printed in english in the new world. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. Nov 25, 20 the first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Bay psalm book newyork historical society nyhistory store. 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. The translations are not particularly polished, and.
The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. In 1640, just 20 years after the mayflower landed at plymouth rock, they.
Nov 06, 2017 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. Bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. Mar 14, 2020 the bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america.
Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. Diana muir appelbaum blog archive the bay psalm book. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. It was the first book printed in british north america. Yet, as the sothebys catalog states, it is as a book and not as a text, that the bay psalm book is best known, celebrated, and revered. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme. Rubenstein, the library of congress opened an exhibit featuring two copies of the bay psalm book, officially titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640. 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.
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. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620.
Major themes, historical perspectives, and personal issues. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. Nov 01, 20 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 bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. Because the 1640 whole booke of psalmes is so rare, and since most copies have been and now all are held by institutions, the sale history of the book is understandably brief. The following year, the residents of the colony asked john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to undertake a new translation from the. 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 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 bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683.
It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. With few and distant exceptions, the sale history is essentially the history of other copies from the collections of the old. Old south church in boston owns 2 of the 11 firstedition copies of the bay psalm book, printed in 1640, still known to exist. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony. Commonly known as the bay psalm book, this book was the product of the new england puritans desire to retranslate the psalms from the original hebrew text. The 6by5inch hymnal books estimated value was raised by 10 million dollars since the end of last year when we first ran a feature on the sale. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston.
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. The first book written and printed in british north america, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Museum of the bible bay psalm bookfirst edition facebook. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. Nov 21, 20 the book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. 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.
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