A rare copy of the first book ever printed in america a collection of psalms produced in cambridge, mass. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. Great awakening, religious revival in the british american colonies mainly between about 1720 and the 1740s.
Well before the end of the first century of typography, the printer had brought to the book the basic forms of nearly every element that he was to contribute. To mark the holiday season, cq roll call introduces you to a very special piece of american history now at the library of congress. The first hundred years of printing in british north. The thirteen colonies, also known as the thirteen british colonies or the thirteen american colonies, were a group of colonies of great britain on the atlantic coast of america founded in the 17th and 18th centuries which declared independence in 1776 and formed the united states 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. Probably the finest copy extant of the first bookform printing of the declaration of independence, preserved with other significant pamphlets of the american revolution, including the third edition of thomas paines common sense, the anonymous pamphlet that in large measure inspired the declaration. The first printing press in america was set up in cambridge under the guaranty of harvard college, during the presidency of henry dunster. Mar 18, 2019 the earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. Especially printers in the american colonies used the new type so extensively that no piece of 18th century american printing looks real to us unless it is printed in caslon. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. 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 printing was done in early 1639, and the first book to be designed and printed in the english american colonies was the whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book of 1640 fig.
The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge. The printing press is a device that allows for the mass production of uniform printed matter, mainly text in the form of books, pamphlets and newspapers. The whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book printed and designed by stephen daye in 1640 asked in music. 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. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date. 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. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american. The colonists were under the control of great britain, where the legal tender was both gold and silver, known as a. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Mar 05, 2008 day had received his small printing press from england in 1638, the gift of a group of puritans still in holland, and this new bay psalm book, as it was soon widely known, was the first noteworthy book published in the englishspeaking colonies. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible.
Thirteen first books facts about the earliest publications in the original american colonies. For students colonial and early america themed resources. History of printing timeline american printing history. Typography typography maturation of the printed book. Americas first book exhibition known as the bay psalm book, but really titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, this was.
Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. The whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book. 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. American colonies also gives you a very detailed view of the history of the various indian tribes both before and after the europeans arrived. The book was widely advertised as the first english bible printed in america, and was recommended as such both by the continental congress and by george washington. Dec 04, 2012 the first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. It was the first book printed in british north america. Hezekiah usher 1615 may 14, 1676 of boston was the first known bookseller in british america. History of printing in the american colonies and america at. Americas hesitation over hymns christian history magazine. 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. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language.
We have no tangible evidence of this little volume, no copies appear to have survived the tides of time. The first book printed in british north america and. Gutenberg bible the gutenberg bible was the first book printed on a printing press, but it was not the first book ever printed. 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. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The first edition of saurs german bible came off an american press in 1743. The whole book of psalmes now called the bay psalm book printed and designed by stephen daye in 1640.
Until i read this book i never realized that indians farmed corn and beans to such a great extent. We can assume that before 1698, no printing presses were technologically equipped. Early english bibles bibles in the american colonies. Charles wesleys hymn had to wait fiftyfive years for its first american printing, and johns hymnal was quickly forgotten. The grade 1 core knowledge history and geography ckhg unit from colonies to independence follows the evolution of the thirteen north american colonies, from their dependence on great britain to their victory in becoming an independent nation. Oct 17, 2014 the bay psalm book is often described as the first book printed in america. Note a the first books printed in the thirteen colonies were published and sold by usher. Thus the first american printed book was issued in mexico in 1536. 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 1776, americans became the first people since the ancient greeks to create a democratic government the. New england at the time, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot. The first books printed in the thirteen colonies were published and sold by usher.
In 1763, saur produced the first bible printed on paper manufactured in america, and in 1776, saur produced the first bible printed from type manufactured in america all of which were in the german language. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Readers were enthusiastic, but the governor was not. 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 psalters history and contents. This book marks the beginning of american printing. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. Typography maturation of the printed book britannica. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. Most historians believe that it was in this house, in 1639, that stephen day and his son matthew printed the freemans oath broadsheet. The english colonists on the american continent had to import bibles published by these royallylicensed printers, since the royal privilege was never granted to a colonial printer. May 30, 2007 it is the very first book printed in what is now the united states.
Under british law, no person was to keep any printingpress for printing, nor was any book. From a history of american classical music newmusicbox. The first book printed in the colonies in 1644 was. The first hundred years of printing in british north america. It presented literal translations of old testament psalms in rhymed meter and was used in nearly every puritan. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. 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. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The styles of the three major typefaces had been formalized to the point at which little other than refinement remained to be added to them. Known as the bay psalm book, but really titled the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, it represents what was most sacred to the puritansa faithful translation of gods word, to be sung in worship by the entire congregation.
First newspaper published in the colonies mass moments. The bay psalm book, the first book printed in the american colonies cambridge. The largest of the shops probably had three presses, and most one or two. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. The library of congress is showing the first book printed in the american colonies. Women printers american colonies international printing museum. It was illegal to print bibles in the english language without a license from the king. 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. In 1452, gutenberg produced the one book to come out of his shop. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america.
Harvard college sponsored first printing press set up in u. 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. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. In fact, the first book printed in english north america contained a translation of the psalms. History of printing in the american colonies and america. First bible printed in america in english language in colonial america, bibles had to be imported from britain as the british government strictly regulated the printing of religious materials. Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for pictures and designs. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in north america for englishspeaking colonists. Its estimated he printed 180 copies of the 1,300paged gutenberg bible, as many as 60 of them on vellum. What was the first book printed in the american colonies. 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. Compared to the great publishing right of london, to which the whole british empire looked for printed matter, the output of the american colonies was small. Thus the first americanprinted book was issued in mexico in 1536.
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