Bay psalm book sold out

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 north american colonies. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it.

With the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of boston s old south church is considering the sale of one of its two copies of the 1640 bay psalm book, i thought it was worth taking a look at the eleven known copies. The reason that itis so special is that it was the first book ever printed in what is now the united states. Bay psalm book the worlds most expensive book that sold. Thats a wrap the battered bay psalm book is just 6in by 5in, riddled with printing errors and poorly bound.

A shrewd bibliophile, rosenbach came to be the most formidable bidder of his time at auctions in the u. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. 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. 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. Rubensteins copy, which has been rebound, is complete and one of the six copies that includes the original title page. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance.

It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Bay psalm book by richard mather 2011, paperback for sale. The bay book of psalms, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640 was the first book ever printed in the u. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. It is believed that there are currently just 11 copies of the bay psalm book in. Until this version of the bay psalm book surfaced, it was not known that a seventh edition was printed in the united states. The first book ever printed in north america in 1640 and one of only 11 copies still in existence, the bay psalm book will be on display today one day only from 10 a. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. The bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in. If one of the old southbpl copies is sold, it will be the first time since 1947 that a first edition has come to auction, and would be. Dec 11, 2012 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. It will go on display in libraries across the united states.

The bay psalm book sets the record for the most expensive english language book ever sold. That honor goes to a religious text, the 1640 bay psalm book, believed to be the first book printed in colonial america. Huntington acquired a large portion of churchs library, including the bay psalm book. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the u. The book was created in 1640, approximately 20 years after the pilgrims had arrived in cambridge massachusetts. Surprising facts you never knew about the bible readers digest. The last time a bay psalm book went for sale was in 1947. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and more. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity.

Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. Nov 30, 2012 twothirds of the members present at the meeting sunday must raise their hands in agreement for the silver and bay psalm book to be sold. Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. Trade books refers to the category of books sold to the general. The bay psalm book is a mythical rarity, a sotheby.

Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. Rubenstein works for an investment firm in washington, dc, and according to the new york times, rubenstein plans to lend it to libraries across the country. The book, one of 11 copies that have survived in various. It was acquired by an antique book store in boston in 1872. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. Nations oldest book may yield divine sum the blade. The most expensive book sold at auction the bay psalm.

Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It was transferred to the huntington library as part of the establishment gift. Bay psalm book sold december 4, 20 rns1nov20 for the first time since 1947, and only the second time since the nineteenth century, a copy of the first book printed in america will be sold at auction. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Auction catalogs is our bizness with over 100,000 online sales and still counting supplying buyers and sellers from all over the. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. 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.

Sothebys the bay psalm book auction catalog 20 ebay. It was the first time in more than sixtysix years that a copy of this rare book was sold on the open market. 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 but the bay psalm book, as it is known, has a special place in bibliophiles hearts, so much so that michael inman, the curator of rare books at the new york public library, said the auction was. 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 bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the united states, was sold on tuesday at sothebys in manhattan. Not the gutenberg bible or platos republi or the bay psalm book. 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. Nov 12, 2012 contains the following inscription on the flyleaf. This one stands out from its fellows, though, because of its. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse.

It was the first book printed in british north america. Nov 27, 20 the first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. Buys the tapesetting, paper, and printing of of the book. Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england. The first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. The first printed books were so inexpensive and modest that they were primarily sold to the middle and lower classes. The buyer of the bay psalm book, as it is known, was david m. Religious texts continue to fill this list of expensive books, with the bay psalm book continuing the trend. Text in the book indicates it was printed and sold by benjamin harris. This book could be the most expensive ever sold among printed books, that is.

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. Bay psalm book by richard mather 2011, paperback for. Debate over rare book sale divides boston church wbur news. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work became the most expensive printed book after it was. While it is not a numismatic work, nevertheless, i thought that this article about what may be the worlds most expensive book would be of interest to readers. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. 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. Which was the more prevalent method of psalm singing, notated or oral tradition. Apr 18, 20 ireland reaches out to help navajo nation. The most expensive books in the world readers digest. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. In november 20, philanthropist david rubenstein purchased this copy of the bay psalm book at auction. The bay psalm book entered the news in the twentyfirst century when a copy was sold for several million dollars to further the ministry of the boston church which owned two copies of the original hymnal. 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.