The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. Ten copies of the first edition of the bay psalm book are known to be extant. Old south church in boston, massachusetts, also known as new old south church or third church is a historic united church of christ congregation first organized in 1669. The bay psalm book, amore literal english translation of the book of psalms, was one of two owned by the old south church. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The church also has another copy that will not be sold. The historic old south church in boston, to which sam adams belonged, plans to sell a 1640 hymn book and colonial era silver to fund building repairs and expand its ministry. This sunday, members of the old south church will vote on whether or not to sell one if its two copies of the bay psalm book, the first book ever published in north america.
A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. Other copies of the bay psalm book are held by the old south church in boston, harvard university, john carter brown library, american antiquarian society. Rarest american book at auction fine books and collections. Media playback is unsupported on your device media caption bostons old south church sings psalm 100 from. The old south church of boston owns two copies of what is considered to be one of the oldest and rarest psalm books of historic importance. Only 11 of the 1,700 copies printed in 1640 of the bay psalm book are known to survive, and the old south church in the heart of boston owns.
Old south church is vocal about its support for the lgbt community, with a loud and proud presence at pride and rainbow flags adorning its entryways. Old south church considers selling first book published in north america video by dominique mosbergen a massachusetts church is considering selling its first edition copy of the first book published in north america, but the debate over the rare books sale has reportedly divided the historic churchs congregation. Old south church announces auction house for 1640 bay psalm. 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. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new york. Jeremy dibbell contributed a post to the fine books blog about the old south church s vote to sell the book, which links to an earlier posting on his own blog, philobiblos, which contains a census of surviving copies of the bay psalm book. Old south church has launched a dedicated media relations site for the press and the curious. In protest of its sale, the old souths historian resigned. Nancy taylor of bostons old south church, which owned the book, said it was in excellent condition and is being. Nov 12, 2012 with the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons 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. This 20 photo provided by old south church in boston shows one of two 1640 copies of the bay psalm book belonging to the church, in boston.
Debate over rare book sale divides boston church wbur news. This hymnal could be the worlds most valuable book up. Nov 25, 20 image caption old south church in boston will retain one of its two bay psalm books and although the massachusetts bay puritans were not separatists or democrats, their pioneering spirit and quest. One of the old south churchs copies of one of the rarest books in the world will be. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Prince was a clergyman at the old south church in boston. In 1718, cotton mather undertook the revision of the original bay psalm book which he had studied since youth. Why sam adams church is selling a bit of its history to pay.
On its 350th birthday, 10 things you didnt know about old. Why sam adams church is selling a bit of its history to. Members of bostons old south church have authorized the sale of one of its two copies at sothebys nov. It sold for 33 million us dollars to the auctions high bidder. Only 11 copies of the bay psalm book survive in varying degrees of completeness. Nov 24, 20 the copy of the bay psalm book that sothebys is set to auction this week comes from the prince library, too. The congregation also voted 25269 to sell the churchs collection of colonial silver currently at the museum of fine arts, boston. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america.
Beginning of the american story the bay psalm book youtube. The book dates back to 1640 and is one of 11 copies of the bay psalm book. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one. Unfortunately, princes version was not accepted outside of his membership and in 1789, the old south church reverted to the earlier edition published by isaac. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south. Rare books, however, operate on a more laidback measurement of time.
In december 2012, the members of bostons old south church voted 274 in favor of selling this second, or beta copy, of the bay psalm book that belongs to the church. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Jeremy dibbell contributed a post to the fine books blog about the old south churchs vote to sell the book, which links to an earlier posting on his own blog, philobiblos, which contains a census of surviving copies of the bay psalm book. Americas first book set to be sold amid holy row books. 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. Speculations on the sale of the bay psalm book rare books. One of the old south churchs copies of one of the rarest books in the world will be auctioned off today. There are only eleven of them left, two of which currently belong to the old south church in boston, which is offering up one of them.
Many thanks to the church council for input on the content and tone of this site. Less than a month prior to the sale of the bay psalm book, sothebys london sold a complete set of the doubleelephant folio of john james audubons birds of american for. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has. The book, which was written by the puritans, was put on the block by bostons old south church. The copy of the bay psalm book that sothebys is set to auction this week comes from the prince library, too. It was the first book printed in british north america. Old south church to sell bay psalm book fine books. Rare books archival collections boston public library. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new. Old south church is delighted to report that after careful investigation followed by consultation with the church council, the trustees chose sothebys to serve as the auction house for one of our copies of the bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The bay psalm book dates back to 1640, when it was printed and used by puritans.
The bay psalm book has achieved its status despite criticism early on about its quality. Members of old south church, which owns two of the 11 surviving first editions of the bay psalm book, will vote sunday on a controversial proposal to sell one of the 17th century books to pay for. Nov 30, 2012 this sunday, members of the old south church will vote on whether or not to sell one if its two copies of the bay psalm book, the first book ever published in north america. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the u. Rubensteins copy, which has been rebound, is complete and one of the six copies that includes the original title page. Apr 12, 20 the book dates back to 1640 and is one of 11 copies of the bay psalm book. Put together in cambridge in the 1600s, its now the worlds most. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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 bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Dec 25, 2012 old south church in boston owns 2 of the 11 firstedition copies of the bay psalm book, printed in 1640, still known to exist. Bostons old south church commemorated the anniversary by celebrating african american artists, authors and activists. The first book printed in british north america and a. The old south church has one other copy, which it says it has no plans to sell.
It all began with the white lion, a slave ship that unloaded the captives on aug. Mar 14, 2020 prince was a clergyman at the old south church in boston. Only 11 of the 1,700 copies printed in 1640 of the bay psalm book are known to survive, and the old south church in the heart of boston owns two of them. The first book printed in british north america and a church. Old south church announces auction house for 1640 bay. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Dec 03, 2012 the historic old south church in boston, to which sam adams belonged, plans to sell a 1640 hymn book and colonial era silver to fund building repairs and expand its ministry. Its present building was designed in the gothic revival style by charles amos cummings and willard t. Old south churchs particular bay psalm book is one of the best copies and in excellent condition, but what makes it incredibly sought after is its origin. Dec 04, 2012 the first book printed in british north america and a church s decision to sell it. Church torn over future of precious asset the boston globe. A historic church in massachusetts will be auctioning off one of their two hymn books that date from the 17th century. He convinced the members of the congregation of the need to produce a revised, more scholarly, edition of the bay psalm book. Two subsequent revisions were published in 1752, by john barnard of marblehead and in 1758 by thomas prince.
Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. Old south church considers selling first book published in north america video by dominique mosbergen a massachusetts church is considering selling its first edition copy of the first book published in north america, but the debate over the rare books sale has reportedly divided the historic church s congregation. The auction will be held in new york on november 26, 20. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. 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. Old south church in boston owns 2 of the 11 firstedition copies of the bay psalm book, printed in 1640, still known to exist. Nov 01, 20 the old south church of boston owns two copies of what is considered to be one of the oldest and rarest psalm books of historic importance. The other nine books are prized items in major collections or libraries. Nov 22, 20 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. Sothebys recently announced that it will handle the sale of the book. Dec 11, 2012 last week, bostons old south church voted 274 to sell one of its two remaining copies of the 1640 bay psalm bookone of the most historic volumes in american religious history. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is.
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. Image caption old south church in boston will retain one of its two bay psalm books and although the massachusetts bay puritans were not separatists or democrats, their pioneering spirit and quest. The members of bostons old south church have voted 274 to sell one of the two copies of the 1640 bay psalm book belonging to the church on deposit at the boston public library since 1866. Old south church in boston, a 300plus yearold progressive congregation belonging to the united church of christ, voted sunday to sell off one of their bay psalm books, which were published in 1640. Inside the book, such famous church members as ben franklin and samuel adams are listed.
Experts believe it to be the first book ever printed in what is now the united states and describe the hymnal as the world s. It plans to sell one to raise money for renovations. The congregation also voted 25269 to sell the church s collection of colonial silver currently at the museum of fine arts, boston. Speculations on the sale of the bay psalm book rare. Last week, bostons old south church voted 274 to sell one of its two remaining copies of the 1640 bay psalm bookone of the most. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. Old south church s particular bay psalm book is one of the best copies and in excellent condition, but what makes it incredibly sought after is its origin. Members of old south church, which owns two of the 11 surviving first editions of the bay psalm book, will vote sunday on a controversial proposal to sell one of the 17th century books. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Prince, thomas library of the old south church boston. With the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons 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. Bay psalm book sale in the news old south church in. Apr 12, 20 old south church is delighted to report that after careful investigation followed by consultation with the church council, the trustees chose sothebys to serve as the auction house for one of our copies of the bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre.