Bay psalm book library of congress

A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press. Library of congress civil rights, bay psalm exhibits. The mystique of the bay psalm book this is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Thomas prince and, therefore, originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. Library of congress two years earlier, in 1638, reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the colonies and daye, a london printer, came over with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. To mark the holiday season, cq roll call introduces you to a very special piece of american history now at the library of congress. Brown university library and the john carter brown library. 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 library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the library of congress in may 1966 by mrs. Mar 14, 2020 bay psalm book last updated march 14, 2020 title page of the copy of the bay psalm book held by the beinecke rare book and manuscript library. Another copy of the bay psalm book resides a short distance across the charles river at the harvard college library, sothebys said.

Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Other books featured multiple times on the list are the gutenberg bible, the first folio of shakespeare s plays and the north american indian with four separate copies. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Another copy owned by a private collector was donated to the library of congress in 1955, and yet another is safely stored inside a box at the john carter brown library at brown university in rhode island. Whats the difference between the national archives and the. Title page of the copy of the bay psalm book held by the beinecke rare book and manuscript library the bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. For decades, this book set the tone for communal devotion. But the chief of rare books and special collections at the library of congress, mark dimunation, has said the almanac was more of a pamphlet or a broadsheet than a book. The bay psalm book is a simple thing, containing psalms translated from hebrew into english in massachusetts wilderness by the early colonists, eager to enjoy their new religious freedom. The original 1640 edition of the bay psalm book comprised 1,700 copies, 11 of which survive today in various degrees of completeness in collections including the library of congress, the new york public library, yale university library and harvard college library. The poetry of michael wigglesworth includes full text of the day of doom for more on puritan sermons, visit fire and ice.

The bay psalm book and early moments in american printing. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Both copies were at one time in the library of the rev. At the centerpiece of the exhibition will be two copies of the bay psalm book, officially titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640. 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 library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Rubenstein, the library of congress opened an exhibit featuring two copies of the bay psalm book, officially titled the whole booke of. International musicological society, report of the 8th congress, 1966, vol.

I am very desirous of obtaining one of the duplicate copies of the old bay psalm book belonging to the old south library, having a strong. The librarys rare book collection is the largest in north america and includes the oldest surviving book printed in north america the bay psalm book, printed in 1640. Rubenstein, the library of congress opened an exhibit featuring two copies of the bay psalm book, officially titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. Billington said, the library is extremely grateful to david rubenstein for sharing his extraordinary copy of the bay psalm book. The first edition of the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge in 1640. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. This app is your pocket guide to whats happening, when and where at the library of congress national book festival in washington, d. This volume is one of the eleven extant copies of the bay psalm book. Nov 27, 20 the church had owned five copies of the 6by5inch book. Join david redden director, special projects, and s. Dec 22, 2015 to mark the holiday season, cq roll call introduces you to a very special piece of american history now at the library of congress.

One is now at the library of congress, one is at yale university and one is at brown university. Fly leaf from the john carter brown library copy of the bay psalm book. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. And did you know that the library s rare book collection includes the first known book printed in north america, the bay psalm book of 1640. 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. 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. Ask a librarian digital collections library catalogs. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. The giant bible of mainzsignifying the end of the handwritten book and the gutenberg bible signifying the beginning of the printing revolution. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The next day, schiller took the oath to the new york public library, met with its curator of rare books, and compared the broadside with the nypls bay psalm book the closest extant item from the cambridge press. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at.

Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. Chesapeake chapter june 22, 2015 a guided tour of first. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. According to the library of congress, the hymnal is considered americas first book. Jews come to america judaic treasures jewish virtual library. The library of congress, the new york public library, and. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. Two highprofile exhibits at the library of congress will close jan. Special projects, as they explore the books incalculable significance in advance. The first thing visitors behold upon entering the exhibit space is a case containing two copies of the bay psalm book 1640, the first book printed in colonial america, of which only eleven survive. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america.

Bay psalm book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Museum of the bible the bible and the library of congress. Until the emergence of the book of hours in the late middle ages, psalters were the books most widely owned by wealthy lay persons. Lc exhibition the bay psalm book and early moments in. The library of congress is the worlds largest library, offering access to the creative record of the united statesand extensive materials from around the worldboth onsite and online. Shurtleff, a boston physician, politician he was elected mayor in 1867, and book collector, proposed an exchange of books to loring lathrop, one of the deacons of old south.

Bay psalm book from the american imprint collection at the library of congress the preface to. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. 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. One of the eleven existing copies of this work is on display as americas first book in the library of congress. Bay psalm book, byname of the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence.

Make your own personal schedule using the list of events and activities, the alphabetical list of authors, and by specific stage, including children, teens, fiction, poetry, science, contemporary. 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 first thing visitors behold upon entering the exhibit space is a case containing two copies of the bay psalm book 1640, the first book printed in colonial. The bible and the library of congress museum of the bible. The original cover of the 1640 bay psalm book in the library of congress collections.

The library is housed in three buildings on capitol hill in washington, d. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. Nov 01, 20 it marked the highest price ever paid for a printed book, and the last public trade of a copy of the bay psalm book. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. C it also maintains the national audiovisual conservation center in culpeper, virginia. I am very desirous of obtaining one of the duplicate copies of the old bay psalm book belonging to the old south church library, having a strong veneration for the old volume. Bay psalm book title page library of congress richard mather portrait internet archive john eliot portrait internet archive from missionary explorers among the american indians by mary gay humphreys book journal sources reid, daniel, robert linder, bruce shelley, and harry stout, 1990. The oldest treasures from 12 great libraries atlas obscura.

Two bay psalm books on exhibit at the library of congress. Use the app to help plan your visit and navigate the festival. The first book published in english north america, the 1640 bay psalm book was used for worship by the puritans of massachusetts bay, who prohibited any singing in church other than songs drawn from the bible. Nov 27, 20 historians believe an almanac may have come off the press before the bay psalm book. The library of congress, spurred by the 1897 reorganization, began to grow and develop more rapidly. Apr 06, 20 library of congress world digital library ted widmer, this is the first book the puritans published on our shores, slate, november 19, 2012. Apr 18, 20 meanwhile, the library of congress, established in 1800, is the worlds largest collection of knowledge and creativity, with treasures in 460 different languages that range from the bay psalm book and european explorers maps to thomas edisons films and the rough drafts of langston hughes. In november 20, philanthropist david rubenstein purchased this copy of the bay psalm book at auction. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book arrived at the library in the 1960s.

The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. A guide to philosophy in the library of congress classification. The bay psalm book was used extensively throughout the colonies and went through many revisions and improvements. Rubenstein said, i appreciate the hard work of jim billington and the library of congress professionals in organizing this exhibition. 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. But did you know that two great bibles face one another in the great hall of the library of congress. Old south church to sell first book published in north america, huffington post, decemeber 2, 2012. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. Rubenstein, the library of congress opened an exhibit featuring two copies of the bay psalm book.

Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Library of congress showcases first book printed in u. Please use the library of congress ask a librarian form. This summer, the library of congress provides yet another option with its excellent new exhibit, first among many.

In 1640, less than two years after landing in massachusetts bay, stephen daye printed the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, known as the bay psalm book, the first book printed in what is now the united states. Jun 10, 2015 through the generous support of david m. It is the oldest federal cultural institution in the united states. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a substantial introduction summarizing the creators philosophy and intentions, followed by translations of the psalms rendered into meter, enabling them to be sung to wellknown tunes of the day. The library of congress web archive isnt the only indepth record of the internet and it is not as comprehensive as the wayback machine, which is a project of the internet archive, a nonprofit. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american. Puritan and reformed writings look at pages from the bay psalm book at the library of congress website more pages from the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Lc copy is the van sinderen copy, described in the quarterly journal of the library of congress, v. Treasures from the brown university library and the john carter brown library are among the nearly 1,200 books, maps, artworks and other cultural items now available online in the world digital library, an international library supported by unesco and the library of congress.

A psalter is a volume containing the book of psalms, often with other devotional material bound in as well, such as a liturgical calendar and litany of the saints. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. One copy will be drawn from the rare book and special collections division at the library of congress. On the left sits the library of congress copyworn and incomplete, but in its original binding. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Spoffords successor john russell young, though only in office for two years, overhauled the library s bureaucracy, used his connections as a former diplomat to acquire more materials from around the world, and established the library s first assistance programs for the blind and physically. Nov 12, 2012 shurtleff obtained his copy of the bay psalm book via old south deacon loring lothrop. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. And did you know that the librarys rarebook collection includes the first known book printed in north america, the bay psalm book of 1640. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance.