Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. Until this version of the bay psalm book surfaced, it was not known that a seventh edition was printed in the united states. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. Old south church copy of the bay of psalms being sold at auction in november 20. 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.
Less than a month prior to the sale of the bay psalm book, sothebys london sold a. The bay book of psalms, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in. The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. 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 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. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work has become the. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work has become the most expensive printed book after it was auctioned. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The most expensive book sold at auction the bay psalm book. Collectors can often find interesting examples of rare books at auction.
It is believed that there are currently just 11 copies of the bay psalm book in existence and these are distributed around universities in the united states, such as yale and harvard, and in libraries including the new york public library. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book. It is also the most expensive book ever sold at auction. Rubenstein works for an investment firm in washington, dc, and according to the new york times, rubenstein plans to lend it. In november 20, philanthropist david rubenstein purchased this copy of the bay psalm book at auction. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new york.
Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The slip case shows moderate to heavy edge weartear as well as overall soilingstaining. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. That recordsetting figure dwarfed the auction prices that other great books achieved at the time. 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. It was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The translation of the biblical psalms, the bay psalm book, is. Sothebys holds the record for any printed book with the bay pslam book, the first book printed in the colonies in 1640 by the puritans of the massachusetts bay. Rubensteins copy, which has been rebound, is complete and one of the six copies that includes the original title page. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history.
Bay psalm book touted to be the worlds oldest and most. Buyers may bid in swann auctions in person, via absentee bid. The 1640 bay psalm book was the first book written in british america and the first book printed in english in the new world. In 1640, the puritans of the massachusetts bay colony created a new poetic translation of the psalms that was meant to adhere as closely to the hebrew original as possible. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. New york citybased swann auction galleries is a familyowned business, priding themselves on authenticity and approachability while adding an element of education and fun to auctions. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the. Swann auction galleries new york, ny bid online at invaluable. Just 11 copies of the bay psalm book have survived.
Top decorative art lots sold at auction in 20 artnet news. It marked the highest price ever paid for a printed book, and the last public trade of a copy of the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book is often described as the first book printed in america. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. Two clothbound hard cover book in the publishers original slip case. Oct 17, 2014 the bay psalm book is often described as the first book printed in america. 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. Nov 27, 20 just 11 copies of the bay psalm book have survived. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book, which was auctioned at sothebys in manhattan yesterday, had a presale estimate of 15 million dollars. Bay psalm book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. 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. The cambridge press sold all 1700 first edition copies of the bay psalm book, and puritan congregations used the book to worship god and teach children to. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39.
Swann auction galleries new york, ny bid online at. It sold for 33 million us dollars to the auctions high bidder. It was the first time in more than sixtysix years that a copy of this rare book was sold on the open market. News bay psalm book from 1640 breaks auction record for printed volume. 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. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The crazy story behind the first book published in the. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. And the worlds most expensive book sale in the history of book trades goes to the bay psalm book owned by the old south church. The five most expensive books ever sold at auction.
Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. Apr 24, 20 the first ever book to be printed in america will soon be put under the hammer, and is already touted to be the most expensive even before it finds a new buyer. The reason that itis so special is that it was the first book ever printed in what is now the united states. Printed in 1640, its considered to be the first book. Text in the book indicates it was printed and sold by benjamin harris. The psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, of the old and new testament. Bay psalm book from 1640 breaks auction record for printed. Speculations on the sale of the bay psalm book rare.
The most expensive book sold at auction the bay psalm. Browse unique items for sale online from swann auction galleries. The church sold its valuable text to fund grants and ministries. Shop on invaluable to search by category, price and more to find what you love. 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. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. The book was created in 1640, approximately 20 years after the pilgrims had arrived in cambridge massachusetts. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. 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. A shrewd bibliophile, rosenbach came to be the most formidable bidder of his time at auctions in the u. Later edition of the bay psalm book bay psalm book.
For the use, edification and comfort of the saints in publick and private, especially in newengland. It is believed that there are currently just 11 copies of the bay psalm book in. The books are both in very good condition with no ownership markswriting within. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The copy sold on tuesday was one of two owned by bostons old south church. The rare bay psalm book is the first book ever written and printed in what is now the united states.