It was, nevertheless, the first full venture of printing in british north america, and this. However, the psalms are popular for private devotion among many protestants and still used in many churches for traditional worship. Victoria psalter first edition owen jones bauman rare. Ephrata cloisters own publishing business began soon after saurs, and doll and funkes. Nov 30, 20 the text rewards such study, but it does not explain why the first book printed in america was a psalter. The book was produced in the year 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts by congregationalist puritan, locksmith stephen daye, and while it does not have the printers name on the title page, daye is nevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies of america. A dozen more volumes followed between 1560 and 1589, containing portions of the mass as well as hymns, psalms and passiontide music. The psalter is also one of the first books to contain a colophon, a page or part of a page that describes who printed the book, the location of the printer and its production date. It was compiled and prefaced by richard mather 15961669, minister of the church of dorcester, and coauthored with thomas weld and john eliot, the first and second ministers at roxbury respectively, and john cotton, a minister in boston. Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful 2. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal.
Colonists came seeking religious freedom, so the first book they printed was not a political tract or even a bible, but a hymnal. A dozen more volumes followed between 1560 and 1589, containing portions of the mass. William youngs bible is also unspeakably rare today. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one of only 11. Imprint satement of place, publisher and date of publication on a books title page. 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 american psalter, the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, was produced by the puritans of the massachusetts bay colony beginning in 1640. Bay psalm book, 1640, the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book in 17thcentury new england jstor. History of printing timeline american printing history. Aug 17, 2016 this facsimile of a rare first edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which provides an academic study of the psalter s history and contents. The text rewards such study, but it does not explain why the first book printed in america was a psalter. Jun 23, 20 the first book ever printed in america, the bay psalm book, a psalter, had previously been published in cambridge in 1640, with the help of john eliot and cotton mather.
Book i psalms 141 blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. In fact, it was not until 1640 that the first book was printed in america. The bay psalm book is among the first printed in america. Varying parts of the bible are considered to be a product of divine inspiration and a record of the relationship between god and humans by christians, jews, samaritans, and rastafari. The first volume of the first edition latin vulgate translation of the bible, including books genesis psalms. The book was very similar to the 1662 english book of common prayer, with few significant changes made, other than the fact that the communion service followed the scottish form rather than the. Common prayer together psalter, first edition abebooks. Typically early printed books and especially manuscripts. Hitti a book of hours, printed in arabic in fano, italy, in 1514 by a press subsidized by pope julius ii has come into the possession of the library. Myles coverdale, first name also spelt miles 20 january, was an english. Seeing the great usefulness of such a small book, i, frantsysk, son of skaryna from polatsk, decided to print the psalterfirst of all for the glory and praise of god, one in trinity, and his immaculate mother.
However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. The first letter of each psalm has a capital and, as is often the case, the opening words of psalms 1, 51 and 101 are decorated, using black, red, and yellow. T he bay psalm book, first book length product of a printing press in british north america, is an im print of prime importance to the stu. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Americas earliest bibles in the early 1600s, the geneva bible became the first bible to be taken across the atlantic to america.
From a history of american classical music newmusicbox. Galen watsons the psalter is reminiscent of dan browns angels and demons and other like works. Published for the society for promoting christian knowledge, printed by c. The first book ever printed in america, the bay psalm book, a psalter, had previously been published in cambridge in 1640, with the help of john eliot and cotton mather.
Social security administration public data, the first name psalter was not present. Nov 25, 20 the text rewards such study, but it does not explain why the first book printed in america was a psalter. Jan 01, 2005 the first american psalter, the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, was produced by the puritans of the massachusetts bay colony beginning in 1640. Nov 01, 20 the book was produced in the year 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts by congregationalist puritan, locksmith stephen daye, and while it does not have the printers name on the title page, daye is nevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies of america. Mar 05, 2008 in 1539 the first printing press arrived in mexico city, and in 1556 it was used to print an ordinary of the mass, the first printed musical volume in north america. Stephen daye as americas first publisher, while others call elizabeth. Issue a group of books issued by the publisher as a discrete unit. In 1640, stephen daye of cambridge, massachusetts, printed the first book in america, still extant, the new england version of the psalms, commonly called the bay psalm book evans 4. It is possible the name you are searching has less than five occurrences per year. As we all know, columbuss name did not settle on the new world.
Additionally, the first verse of psalm 100 z4v has a contemporary. Book of psalms project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. First page of the psalter, from an bcp printed in 1865. The first had been the great bible, commissioned in the reign of king henry viii 1535, and the second had been the bishops bible, commissioned in the reign of queen elizabeth i 1568. The later editions folio and quarto published in 1537 were the first complete bibles printed in england.
They are like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves. Three years later caxton then set up a printshop in england. This was the first american bible to be printed together with a psalter. Martin waldseemueller in his cosmographiae introductio st. 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. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. These first versions of his psalm renditions were based mainly or completely upon his translation of the book of psalms in the coverdale bible. It did not include music, but recommended the use of the tunes in. The the first book printed in north america offsite link. The coverdale bible, compiled by myles coverdale and published in 1535, was the first complete modern english translation of the bible not just the old testament or new testament, and the first complete printed translation into english cf. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language. At times, issue refers to timing, such as the first.
By the 20th century they were mostly replaced by hymns in church services. Psalter definition of psalter by the free dictionary. With their new translation incorporating new hebrew scholarship, it became widely popular among the churches in massachusetts bay, hence the name bay psalm book. Skaryna stated his mission in the preface to the psalter. Both books are encompassed in this single volume, offering readers and collectors a personal edition of a major icon of book history and a great artifact of american culture. Happy are they who have not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor lingered in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seats of the scornful. Saur in his first year of printing had begun work on a monumental 800page hymnal for the cloister, zionitischer weyrauchshugel hill of zionitic incense which was published in 1739, the first book printed in german fraktur typeface in america.
Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. In 1539 the first printing press arrived in mexico city, and in 1556 it was used to print an ordinary of the mass, the first printed musical volume in north america. It was the first book printed in british north america. Their delight is in the law of the l ord, and they meditate on his law day and night. Finally, at age sixteen, under the pen name of silence dogood, benjamin. Psalmsinging had for centuries been the demesne of a handpicked choir, but the english reformation invited the voices of the entire congregation. The first book printed in north america was a collection of psalm settings, the bay psalm book 1640. When a copy does come to auction, it brings the highest price of any book printed in colonial america. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither whatever they do prospers. We find the first biographical account of columbus in another thacher giftthe first polyglot psalter, printed in genoa in 1516. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The book of common prayer was the first book printed in ireland, and shortly after its printing the new liturgy was formally introduced into ireland at christ church cathedral, dublin, on easter.
It was printed on a printing press brought over from england. 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. William caxton prints the first book in english, recuyell of the historyes of troy, in bruges in collaboration with the flemish printer colard mansion. We find the first biographical account of columbus in another thacher gift the first polyglot psalter, printed in genoa in 1516. The psalter is the song book used by the free reformed churches of north america.
American history library of congress rare books and. The first american psalter lasted for over a century before becoming outdated and replaced by improved translations of the psalms. The psalter captured my attention right away as it begins with a somewhat mysterious murder of a priest near the vatican. The psalter free reformed churches of north america. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. The book of psalms hebrew tehillim, or praises, commonly referred to simply as psalms, is the first book of the writings, the third section of the hebrew bible. The first printing of this book, by hall and sellers of philadelphia, occurred the following year, and this first edition is what is presented here. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed into metrical rhyme for congregational singing. American history library of congress rare books and special. The 1789 psalter had the selections of psalms printed out in full.
We also have a table summarizing the relatively minor changes made to the psalter prior to 1928. The psalter contains the latin text of the psalms, complete on 60 sheets of vellum in five gatherings or quires. Davids psalter, a translation of the book of psalms into polish by jan kochanowski, 1579. Mar 14, 2020 the bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Seventeenth century bibles and biblical history from 16001699. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made in north. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. Redden, who is the chairman of sothebys books department and has auctioned copies of. The king james version kjv, also known as the king james bible kjb or simply the authorized version av, is an english translation of the christian bible for the church of england, was commissioned in 1604 and completed as well as published in 1611 under the sponsorship of james vi and i. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Psalters are an unfamiliar genre for many, even those who worship regularly.
The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. The constance gradual, the earliest printed music after the single line of music in the 1457 mainz psalter. The crazy story behind the first book published in the future. This copy is one of the three existing copies printed, illuminated, and bound in mainz, germany, circa 1455, by johannes gutenberg 14001468. A book containing the book of psalms or a particular version of, musical setting for, or selection from it. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The bay psalm book, expected to sell today for up to thirty million dollars. Psalter synonyms, psalter pronunciation, psalter translation, english dictionary definition of psalter.
Events bay psalm book printed timeline the association. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliot s algonquin native american indian language bible. While not previously unknown, it is exceedingly rare and its production has long presented difficult questions to scholars. Davids psalter, a translation of the book of psalms into polish by jan kochanowski, 1579 scottish psalter,1635 and 1650 bay psalm book, 1640, the first book printed in british north america. 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 first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. The books of the king james version include the 39 books of the old testament, an intertestamental.
Their delight is in the law of the l ord, and they meditate on his law day and night 3. She established americas first print shop in a little house on what is. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and materials. The text is a gallican version of the vulgate, written in insular majuscule letters in a single column. The book, though frequently reprinted, is now rare. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Walter lud, 1507 makes the famous suggestion that the new world be named america.
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