Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre ebook written by stephen daye. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. A noteworthy feature of the bay psalm book was the use of the divine name in some verses. The crazy story behind the first book published in the. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. Its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a. 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. Consequently, daye must have printed pierces almanac prior to the english first of the year that began on march 15. Stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made.
It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first. 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. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of psalms also known as the bay psalm book, the first book printed in british north america. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining. Ones for the books the bay psalm book, the first book to be printed in america, has sold at. Rubenstein said, i appreciate the hard work of jim billington and the library of congress professionals in organizing this exhibition. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. 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 published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. 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 translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use. Because the printers were not trained typographers, the book is rife with typos, plagued with spacing errors, and crudely laid. The bay psalm book, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press.
The bay psalm book was printed under trying circumstances. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. The bay psalm book was both ambitious and crude a formidable achievement under the worst conditions. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant.
The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Stephen daye, who was a locksmith by trade and, by most accounts. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made in north america, it was also the first. 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. Its original edition was printed by stephen daye in the massachusetts bay colony during the year 1640. That early publication contained the bible book of psalms, translated from hebrew into the english language as spoken and written at that time. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of. It was the first book printed in british north america. The first printing was the third product of the stephen day sometimes spelled daye press, and consisted of a 148 small quarto leaves, including a 12page.
The new psalm book was adopted at once by nearly every congregation in the colony of massachusetts bay, and for that reason it came to be known as the bay psalm book. The first printed piece from the press was the freemans oath january 1639. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640, wilberforce eames editor wilberforce eames.
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 reverend jose glover, who sailed to massachusetts in 1638 in order to establish the first press in the fledgling colony, died during the transatlantic passage. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. The first known example in what is now the united states was a simple printed label created by stephen daye, the massachusetts bay colony printer of the 1642 bay psalm book. The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a closer paraphrase of. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and materials of printing to the new colony. The 1640 edition of the bay psalm book is the earliest surviving product of the dayes press, and was immediately adopted by nearly every congregation in massachusetts bay hence the volumes familiar name. By then, the press had already issued a broadside, the freemans oath, an 8page almanac for 1639, and the famous bay psalm book. 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 next year, 1641, daye was rewarded for his work with three hundred acres of land. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. 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 metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Learn more about the bay psalm book and the first printing press in the new world. The first edition of the bay psalm book, or new england version of the psalms, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, has the distinction of being the first book printed in. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. In 1640, he printed the bay psalm book, the first book published in the american colonies. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Being a fac simile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye, at cambridge in new england, in 1640. 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. The reverend jose glover put this into action when he resigned his post in surrey, england, and set sail for the massachusetts bay colony in 1638 with his family, possessions, and a.
Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. 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. The translations are not particularly polished, and. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book.
Matthew daye died in 1649, and the printing press functioned until 1692, after printing a number of landmark projects, including the first bible in a native american tongue. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and.
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