Glover, daye and their families set sail for the colonies aboard the ship john of london in 1638. Jun 17, 2014 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. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of psalms also. Published in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640 by stephen daye, the bay psalm book was a collection of holy songs translated from the old testaments hebrew into english. Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in. It was the first book printed in british north america.
Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640, wilberforce eames. 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. 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 bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states.
It was followed by an almanac and by the bay psalm book 1640, the first book printed in the colonies. Stephen day merits gratitude and commendation, and he deserves the encomium that walt whitman offered more than two centuries later to others, who like day, left the past behind to seize a newer, mightier world, varied. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of psalms. And these all had as their progenitor stephen days imperfect, yet somehow irreproachable, printing of the bay psalm book. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new york. 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. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. In the first year he printed a broadsheet, the freemans oath and an almanack, and in 1640 printed the colonys first book, the bay psalm book.
Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition north america 1640 ad. The first book printed in america rare books digest. But after elizabeths death in 1643 and dayes retirement. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. New york, 12 april 20 on 26 november 20, sothebys new york will auction one of the finest surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states of america.
The book is a psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. That recordsetting figure dwarfed the auction prices that other great books achieved at the time. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect. 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. The first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america.
The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. 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 crazy story behind the first book published in the. 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. It is the first book printed in what is now the united states. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant. 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. Daye, stephen dnb00 wikisource, the free online library. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. This humble and wellworn hymnal was printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye, first printer of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book was first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts by stephen daye, a locksmith whose name does not appear on the title page but who is nevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy.
Stephen daye was supposedly a good printer, but the evidence shows otherwise. Bay psalm book first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book was first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts by stephen daye, a locksmith whose name does not appear on the title page but who is nevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies of america. Joseph glover, rector of sutton, surrey, who had interested himself in the young settlement of massachusetts, procured. 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 bay psalm book, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press.
Dec 18, 2012 the first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. Nov 12, 2012 a census and account of copies is given in wilberforce eames introduction to the bay psalm book. He received 300 acres of land from the colony for his work, which he promptly mortgaged for a cow, a calf, and a heifer. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung.
A copy of the bay psalm book will be at the mercantile library ahead of its auction. Its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The bay psalm book the bay psalm book, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book.
Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. Bay psalm book first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts kindle edition by stephen day, garcia r jose antonio. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the. The bay psalm book was both ambitious and crude a formidable achievement under the worst conditions. The bay psalm book was the first book, that is still in existence, printed in british north america. Being a fac simile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye, at cambridge in new england, in 1640.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre daye, stephen on. 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. In 1640, he printed the bay psalm book, the first book published in the american colonies. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. The bay psalm book, printed in an original edition of 1,700 in cambridge in 1640 by stephen daye, was intended as a closer paraphrase of the hebrew original than the one the puritans brought from england, and was quickly adopted by. The type of the bay psalm book, unlike the paper, was of english manufacture. There is no proof in support of the assertion that he was descended from the printer john day q. Sep 04, 2017 after publishing the bay psalm book, elizabeth and daye published a 1641 almanac, a catechism prayer, and a set of massachusetts laws.
A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. After publishing the bay psalm book, elizabeth and daye published a 1641 almanac, a catechism prayer, and a set of massachusetts laws. Stephen daye, who was indentured as a locksmith, to operate the press at massachusetts bay. The following year, the residents of the colony asked john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to undertake a new translation from the hebrew of the. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the bay psalm book. It is interesting to note that some two hundred years later a new york publisher, publishing under the name stephen daye, inc. 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. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. Ephemeral printing is generally believed to have begun in early 1639. Some of the psalms and the music can be viewed and heard. The late henry stevens gives an amusing descripition of his purchase of the copy now in the lenox library recollections of mr.
Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of. Because the printers were not trained typographers, the book is rife with typos, plagued with spacing errors. The oldest books in north america were printed in mexico in the 16th century. Dec, 2011 a copy of the original edition of the bay psalm book 1640, as the first book printed in what is now the united states, is among the choicest libri desiderati of the american collector.
Stephen daye was not a printer, but a locksmith, whereas his son, matthew daye, was a trained printer. The whole book of psalms faithfully translated into english metre. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new. The translations are not particularly polished or poetic, and no. Glover died during the voyage, but daye and the printing press landed in september. Stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in. Apr 12, 20 the bay psalm book, printed in an original edition of 1,700 in cambridge in 1640 by stephen daye, was intended as a closer paraphrase of the hebrew original than the one the puritans brought from england, and was quickly adopted by nearly every congregation in massachusetts. The bay psalm book was the first book known to be printed in british north america. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The following year, the residents of the colony asked john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to undertake a new translation from the hebrew of the book of psalms, for use in the colonys churches. This book is a facsimile reprint of the first edition printed in 1640 by stephen daye at cambridge, mass. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english.
Matthew may have done the actual printing for the company. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established. A census and account of copies is given in wilberforce eames introduction to the bay psalm book. Bay psalm book stephen daye the bay psalm book bound volume, 1640 expand images. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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. Because the printers were not trained typographers, the book is rife with typos, plagued with spacing errors, and crudely laid out over its 37 sheets. 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. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. 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 bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made in north america, it was also the first.