Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. 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 whoisnevertheless credited as the first printer of the first book printed in the english colonies of america. The decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south church in boston. Oct 17, 2014 the bay psalm book is often described as the first book printed in america. Other colonies besides virginia were also restrictive. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 kindle edition by haraszti, zoltan. The first book printed in the colonies, the extremely rare bay psalm book, will be auctioned at the parkebernet galleries, 30 east fiftyseventh street at 8 p. And while in the early days of the settlement most books had to be imported from london, it was not long before americas first printing press. Apr 20, 2020 the first dated printed book is the diamon sutra.
The colonists brought many psalters with them to the new world, but they. The cambridge press, like the puritan press at leyden before it, was begun to allow the publication of religious works without fear of interference from london. The earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce. By 1791, he had produced 5,000 copies of the first bible printed in new jersey. S the first book printed in the colonies aliteracy as self. The ministers of the small colony were eager to produce their own version of the psalms, one that did. It was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. In addition to being the first book printed in the british american colonies, the bay psalm book should be recognized as the first book written in america as well. 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. In general, the content and presentation in the ckhg k2 units are appropriate for students in lower elementary grades. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Bells additions to paines works included the propriety of independancy, which was signed by demophilus.
Stephen day, his first publication was the bay psalm book of 1640. To suggest entries or corrections, please contact the editor. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the bay psalm book.
The first press in the british colonies in america was established in 1639. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american. The bay psalm book, the first book printed in what would become the united states. Rubenstein said, i appreciate the hard work of jim billington and the library of congress professionals in organizing this exhibition. Ckhg student books offer engagingly written and richly illustrated text on the topics specified for the unit. The first hundred years of printing in british north. This facsimile of the rare original edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which offers an academic study of the psalters history and contents. The bay psalm book is often described as the first book printed in america. The early residents of the massachusetts bay colony brought with them several books of psalms. We can assume that before 1698, no printing presses were technologically equipped.
Women printers american colonies international printing museum. 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 founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Known as the bay psalm book, this book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, about 20 years after arrival of puritan colonists. The bay psalm book, the first book printed in the american colonies cambridge. Any large or lengthy work was far cheaper to produce in london, and law books were almost the only folios printed in the colonies before 1740. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in north america for englishspeaking colonists. In 1640, after the printing of the freemans oath and an almanac, stephen and matthew began work on the first book published in the american colonies, the whole booke of psalmes. The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this modest book served the larger purpose of the colonyto live within the reformed church.
But i am not sure what the first printed book in the usa was. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made. Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for pictures and designs. With an overwhelming 271 to 34 vote, the church decided to give its board the power to sell one copy of the bay psalm book, the first book ever printed in british north america. The first book printed in british north america and.
The churchs historian says the book is simply not theirs to sell. While leaden types were still imported from the mother country well into the 18th century, a paper mill was established in germantown, pennsylvania as early as 1690. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. 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. Charles wesleys hymn had to wait fiftyfive years for its first american printing, and johns hymnal was quickly forgotten.
It presented literal translations of old testament psalms in rhymed meter and was used in nearly every puritan. At the time of sir williams pronouncement, there was only one printing establishment in the colonies, the cambridge, massachusetts, press of the widow glover and matthew daye, whose 1639 bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed in the colonies. It is appropriate that robert bell first printed the declaration in book form. Its estimated he printed 180 copies of the 1,300paged gutenberg bible, as many as 60 of them on vellum. The first book printed in the english language was the recuyell of the histories of troy, issued, about 1475, at bruges. He decided that the massachusetts bay colony was the change he was. Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. Oktoih prvoglasnik, oktoih petoglasnik, psaltir, molitvenik. In boston in 1698, two printers named bartholomew green and john allen published the ninth edition of the bay psalm book, which is significant since it contains the first printed music in british north america.
The bay psalm book, published in cambridge, massachusetts in 1641, sought to make it easy for congregations to sing psalms, which ministers regarded as a form of prayer. However, portions of biblical text were printed in the colonies. Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for. A history of book ownership in the american colonies. Under stephen dayes supervision, copies were printed by samuel green on the first printing press in colonial. 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. Durad iv crnojevic used the printing press brought to cetinje by his father ivan i crnojevic to print the first books in southeastern europe, in 1493. History of printing timeline american printing history. On this day in 1690, boston printer benjamin harris produced the first issue of publick occurrences, the first newspaper published in britains north american colonies. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the. Documents had been printed in ancient china from engraved plates.
The crnojevic printing press operated from 1493 through 1496, turning out religious books of which five have been preserved. Dec 04, 2012 the first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. Within the first year in the massachusetts bay colony, they printed the. The whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book printed and designed by stephen daye in 1640 asked in music. Most historians believe that it was in this house, in 1639, that stephen day and his son matthew printed the freemans oath broadsheet. The the first book printed in north america offsite link.
Under british law, no person was to keep any printingpress for printing, nor was any book. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in the american colonies. It was the first book printed on the puritan minister joseph glovers. Women printers american colonies international printing. Early english bibles bibles in the american colonies. This data, provided as an aid to students, was compiled from many sources. Gutenberg bible the gutenberg bible was the first book printed on a printing press, but it was not the first book ever printed. Only 11 of the original 1,600 copies of the book printed in cambridge in 1640 remain.
Americas hesitation over hymns christian history magazine. While leaden types were still imported from the mother country well into the 18th century, a paper mill was established in germantown, pennsylvania as early as 1690, which illustrates the high demand for printed material. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. The first book printed in british north america and a. First newspaper published in the colonies mass moments. Books were still expensive, and literacy remained a luxury. The whole booke of psalms the first successful lasting more than a few days colonial newspaper was john campbells 1704 boston newsletter. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. The first book printed in british north america and a church. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. The first book printed in the colonies aliteracy as selfcensorship the cultural value of books epublishing text and lecture print on demand pod the first newspaper printed in the colonies lasted one day absolutely everything about the john peter zenger case.
The first newspaper printed in the colonies lasted but one. The first book printed in america rare books digest. He was also the first to publish books in the colonies in native american languages. Due to its fairly large size and clear type, unlike all the small coatpocket american bibles and new testaments that had come before it, the 1791 isaac collins bible became known as the first family bible printed in america. 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. 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. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. Western printing technology was adopted in all world regions by the end of the 19th century, displacing the manuscript and block printing. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Indeed, the very first book printed in the englishspeaking colonies was a book of sacred music. The first book printed on a printing press using movable type was the gutenburg bible printed by johannes gutenberg in germany in 1450. From the first it was firmly controlled by the ruling oligarchy and used for their ends. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. Issued in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was certainly the first book printed in the english colonies of america, and the first book printed in what later became the.
The global spread of the printing press began with the invention of the printing press with movable type by johannes gutenberg in mainz, germany c. In 1452, gutenberg produced the one book to come out of his shop. The book industry was slow to develop after the revolutionary war. New england at the time, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot. Its estimated he printed 180 copies of the 1,300paged gutenberg bible. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language. The first book printed in british north america, 1640. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century.
The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. Mar 18, 2019 the earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south. Issued in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was certainly the first book printed in the english colonies of america, and the first book printed in what later became the united states.
The first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. May 30, 2007 the first book printed in the english language was the recuyell of the histories of troy, issued, about 1475, at bruges. Browse and buy a vast selection of first editions books and collectibles on. The first newspaper printed in the colonies lasted but one day. From colonies to independence ckhg student books offer engagingly written and richly illustrated text on the topics specified for the unit. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. But in a movement that began before the civil war, came to most states by 1900, swelling the number of readers. The student books include maps and full color images. An earlier version of this post said the bay psalm book was the first book printed in north america. Dec 18, 2012 the first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Apr 06, 20 the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in the american colonies. In 1640, after the printing of the freemans oath and an almanac, stephen and matthew began work on the first book published in. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written.
Shop first editions books and collectibles abebooks. The crazy story behind the first book published in the future. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge. Readers were enthusiastic, but the governor was not. In fact, the first book printed in english north america contained a translation of the psalms. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date. The first book printed in the colonies in 1644 was. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. What was the first book printed in the american colonies. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The first hundred years of printing in british north america.