The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Chapter 2 examines a selection of these, ranging from the plain style of george wither, whose bid to supplant sternhold and hopkins ran afoul of the stationers monopoly, and the even more prosaic bay psalm book 1640, whose principal concern was wordforword faithfulness to the hebrew text, to the more literary work of george sandys, who wrote for private devotion rather than. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The psalm book, written and printed by the puritans of massachusetts bay colony in 1640, was designed to allow a whole congregation to sing psalms together in church and at home. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sothebys will auction one of. The copy of the bay psalm book used to create the pdf additional files and the flipping book the read online button is one of 11 copies of the first edition. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published 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. In a biographical sketch of henry dunster, first president of harvard college, who came to america in 1640, there is mention of the publication of the bay psalm book, which appeared in two editions, in 1640 and 1647.
Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. 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. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. With the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons 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 bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The book is in its original binding, with the title page signed by mather. Nov 25, 20 in 1640 he printed some 1,700 copies of the 300page whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, commonly known as the bay psalm book. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The new paraphrase was so influential that it was first reprinted in 1647 in england. But both these psalters were increasingly deemed unsatisfactory for englishspeaking colonial life, so the attempt was made to create a new american psalter, the socalled bay psalm book published in cambridge, mass. The psalms transcribed from the 1640 bay psalm book and, select psalms, copied from the peerless poems of david, the king psalms 117. The bay psalm book richard mather, john eliot, thomas. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the. 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 the first time a copy.
The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, familiarly called the bay psalm book, was the first book. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. 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. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. In 1640, the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book.
Historic american hymnal bay psalm book from 1640 may. Aug 17, 2016 the founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, 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. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. It is reproduced here by courtesy of the john carter brown library at brown university. As such, puritans developed the practice of lining out the psalmhaving a deacon or clerk read each line of text before it was sung. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. 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.
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. A tiny hymnal from 1640 believed to be the first book. A tiny hymnal from 1640 believed to be the first book ever printed in what is now the united states is set. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed. 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. Nov 25, 20 translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after the mayflower left plymouth, england. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. To the chief musician, a psalm of david 1 the heavens do declare the majesty of god. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Some of the psalms and the music can be viewed and heard.
Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The vvhole booke of psalmes, faithfully translated into english metre the bay psalm book, published in cambridge by stephen daye, 1640. Most of our transcriptions of the bay psalm book will use modernized american english, since our main purpose is the pragmatic one of wanting to encourage and aid the actual singing of the psalms. The copy of the bay psalm book used to create the pdf additional files and the flipping book the read online button is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist and one of only four perfect copies. 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 book. 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. Title page of the copy of the bay psalm book held by the beinecke rare book and manuscript library.
A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. Historic american hymnal bay psalm book from 1640 may fetch. 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. Jun 11, 2018 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. It was the first book printed in british north america. Jan 29, 2017 the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. 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. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. More than simple psalmsinging in english by robin a.
Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it. Title from the bay psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. It was the first book printed in north america on the first printing press in north america, which was set up in president dunsters house in cambridge, ma. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Please read our short guide how to send a book to kindle. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Chapter 2 examines a selection of these, ranging from the plain style of george wither, whose bid to supplant sternhold and hopkins ran afoul of the stationers monopoly, and the even more prosaic bay psalm book 1640, whose principal concern was wordforword faithfulness to the hebrew text, to the more literary work of george sandys, who wrote for private devotion rather. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america.
Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Heres a poem written i believe by elizabeth brandreth which expresses my feelings about the adirondacks. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed into metrical. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The preface is possibly by mather, but could be by john cotton. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. Harasztis, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p. In a few cases we will also provide a version that retains the 1640 spelling to give a flavor of how they looked in the original. 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 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.
Originally, the colonys residents looked to a committee of. The bay psalm book richard mather, john eliot, thomas weld. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm books publication in 1640 came at a time when few could read and write words, never mind musical notation, and there were few copies of the book created to share in churches. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free.
This psalter was a new translation begun in 1636 by a group of puritan divines richard mather. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm books publication in 1640 came at a time when few could read and write words, never mind musical notation, and there were few copies of the book created to share in churches. Translated by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, among others. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after the. 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. 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. 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. In 1640 he printed some 1,700 copies of the 300page whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, commonly known as the bay psalm book.
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. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. Zoltan haraszti, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p. Popular title of the first book produced by englishspeaking american authors on a britishnorth american press. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press.