It was acquired by an antique book store in boston in 1872. Bay psalm book the worlds most expensive book that sold. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The bay psalm book was the first english book printed in america before america became an independent nation from englandonly 20 years after the pilgrims landed. The church also has another copy that will not be sold. 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 book in question is one of the 1,700 copies printed in the year 1640 by the pilgrims who had come from. Thats a wrap the bay psalm book, the first book ever printed in british america, and the first book ever written in america. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. For me, i love my love is something that my teenaged self would have needed and a psalm for us is something for this point in my life. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39.
The most expensive book sold at auction the bay psalm book. Springboard to final victory camera book by henri, usmc 95 pp 1945 iwo jima. Rubensteins copy, which has been rebound, is complete and one of the six copies that includes the original title page. 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.
Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. The bay psalm book sold for millions last week at sothebys. 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. They are a onesizefitsall solution to the problem of what to buy for a loved one. It was the first time in more than sixtysix years that a copy of this rare book was sold on the open market. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work became the most expensive printed book after it was. Psalm 68 the exodus and conquest, pledge of future help. At the time this was also the highest price paid anywhere for a book in the english language. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Third book psalms 73 89 psalm 73 the trial of the just. You turn us back to dustour years come to an end like a sigh ps. The auction for the copy of the whole booke of psalmes thats become known as the bay psalm book finally happened last week, and billionaire david m.
Nov 26, 20 the previous record for most expensive book sold at auction is the birds of america by john james audubon, a 19thcentury volume of ornithological illustration, which was bought for. Many collections preceded this final compilation of the psalms. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. 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 rare bay psalm book is the first book ever written and printed in what is now the united states. Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. They are items that provide hours of enjoyment for the recipient. It was the first book printed in british north america. The last time a bay psalm book went for sale was in 1947. The sales of e books will probably level off at 5 percent of u. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. A book is also a considerate option when giving to an acquaintance such as a coworker.
List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work has become the most expensive printed book after it was auctioned. Springboard to final victory camera book by henri, usmc 95 pp 1943 u. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. You see the maturation in writing from her first book to this one. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. 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 sales of e books will likely drop as the fad passes. Back in april, we told you about an extremely rare book going up for auction from sothebys, expected to sell for millions. Bostons old south church sold the bay psalm book from its collection to cover the cost of building repairs and to fund its ministry. Het bay psalm book is een psalter dat in 1640 gedrukt werd in cambridge massachusetts. 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.
Printed in 1640, its considered to be the first book. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Bay psalm book, the article about bay psalm book, the by. The bay psalm book 1 the lord to me a shepherd is, want therefore i shall not, he in the folds of tender grass doth make me down to lie to waters calm he gently leads restore my soul doth he he doth in paths of righteousness for his names sake lead me.
Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free beta. 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. Publishers will probably stop producing print books by 2012. A book of psalms which is amongst the first books ever printed in america is on the way to become the most expensive book ever sold. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The book in question is one of the 1,700 copies printed in the year 1640 by the pilgrims who had come from england and settled in plymouth, massachusetts. A firstedition copy of the first book printed in the new world was sold tuesday night at auction for a record sum. Huntington acquired a large portion of churchs library, including the bay psalm book. Until this version of the bay psalm book surfaced, it was not known that a seventh edition was printed in the united states.
Book 4 psalms 90106 bible commentary theology of work. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Text in the book indicates it was printed and sold by benjamin harris. 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. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the u. The copy i purchased was originally from the boston mass area and was bought around 1924 before it ended up in a library. 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. The 300page volume was printed by puritan settlers in new england. Gods grace in the midst of judgment psalm 86 book 4 psalms 90106 working in a fallen world psalms 90, 101 human creativity with god psalm 104 book 5 psalms 107150 god undergirds all work and productivity psalm 107 virtues for those in business psalm 112 participating in gods work psalm 1. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed in what is.
W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Nov 27, 20 psalm book sets record at auction a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under 14. 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 whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. 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. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one of. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Book 5 psalms 107150 bible commentary theology of work. Study 20 terms chapter 10 books flashcards quizlet. 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 bay psalm book was the first book printed in what became the united states and this copy was owned by the old south church in boston. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america.
At that time psalms appears also to have been used as a title for the entire section of the hebrew ot canon more commonly known as the writings see lk 24. The bay psalm book sets world record at auction us news. It was transferred to the huntington library as part of the establishment gift. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. In november 20, philanthropist david rubenstein purchased this copy of the bay psalm book at auction. Courtesy of the old south church in boston w4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. This psalm focuses our attention on the difficulty and the brevity of life. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. An international record for a book auction was believed to have been set last night when the bay psalm book, the puritans interpretation of the psalms in.
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