Oldest book printed on american soil to go up for sale. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. First book ever printed in america valued at a record. In fact, the first book printed in english north america contained a translation of the psalms. Green was the first of a twohundredyear run of family printers. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Known as the bay psalm book, this book was printed in cambridge. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. It was the first book printed in british north america.
It was produced in 1473 on the continent, in either bruges or ghent. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. A man by the name of william caxton was the first man ever to print a book in the english language. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in.
Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. With the victory at the battle of yorktown, america was finally free from british policies, including the longstanding one against printing a bible in english in america. Its full title reads in english translation summary and beneficial. John eliot, a cambridge scholar and christian missionary, was a gifted translator and linguist. According to the website of the cambridge reformed presbyterian church.
The crazy story behind the first book published in the. In 1452, gutenberg produced the one book to come out of his shop. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. 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.
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. Neither is true, though congress did give an endorsement to the bible printed by robert aitken. The first book printed in british north america and. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The first book published in colonial america was the bay psalm book. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch.
Rather, it was written in the algonquin indian language. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. 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. What was the first book in england to be printed in english. Its estimated he printed 180 copies of the 1,300paged gutenberg bible, as many as 60 of them on vellum. The earliest surviving printed book from the americas american. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language. Aitkens bible, sometimes referred to as the bible of the revolution, is one of the rarest books in the world, with few copies still in existence today. This data, provided as an aid to students, was compiled from many sources. However, portions of biblical text were printed in the colonies. The gutenberg bible also known as the 42line bible, the mazarin bible or the b42 was among the earliest major books printed using massproduced movable metal type in europe.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The book, which was called the recuyell of the historyes of troye, was first produced in 1473. Apr 20, 2020 the first dated printed book is the diamon sutra. The first bible printed in america museum of the bible. First book printed in british north america is now worlds. But it was not a version of the kings speechor kings englishthe king james bible. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Nov 30, 20 the bay psalm book, the first to be printed in british america s inaugural print shop, a little house in cambridge, ma, was a literal translation from hebrew to english by colonists wishing to provide a version that was more faithful to the original 150 psalms. It was quite late in colonial american history when the first english language bible was printed in america, 1782 to be exact. Cist also printed, in english, the second volume of the threevolume 1791 wesley new testament hills 35. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need.
The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Jul 17, 2014 a 540yearold book, known as the first to be printed in the english language, has sold at auction for more than. It was eagerly received, and went through a second edition printing in 1778, a. Stories of war, knightly exploits and love were popular courtly reading. 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. Spanish america, colonized before british america, housed the first printing press in. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. 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. First bible published in north america guinness world records. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. 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.
One other bit of negative evidence has been somewhat neglected by investigators. 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. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. With the assistance of several native speakers, he learned the wopanaak dialect of the tribes of colonial new england. The first bible published in north america was the socalled eliot bible which was printed in 1663 at harvard college in cambridge, massachusetts. A history of the first printing press established in english america, together. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england.
The phrase in adams fall, we sinned all, taught children the first letter of the alphabet and the concept of original sin at the same time. This was the first book ever to be printed in english. Nov 14, 20 the bay psalm book was the first book printed in what became the united states and this copy is owned by the old south church in boston. Warren throckmorton christian blog and commentary on. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The first book printed in america rare books digest. Carl cist, whose birth name was carl thiel, was apparently the first in america to publish new testaments in more than one language, and was also the first in america to publish a pharmacopoeia. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book.
The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. It was illegal to print bibles in the english language without a license from the king. The first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. History of printing timeline american printing history. Jul 10, 2018 one of the hardiest christian america myths is the idea that congress gave financial support to print the first americanpublished bible in 1782, or even that congress printed it themselves. Early english bibles bibles in the american colonies. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The book is a collection of stories very loosely based on the tales of the trojan wars. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. Sep 25, 2016 englishman william caxton produces the first book printed in english, the recuyell of the historyes of troye. The gutenberg bibel was the first book printed in the way we know it today. Since our founding in 1992, first book has distributed more than 175 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from lowincome families. The recuyell of the histories of troye is a version of a french book written.
Making americas first book in 1620, the pilgrims who sailed on the mayflower most likely brought bibles with them, but theres no definitive. The first printing press to come to british america arrived in the winter of 163839. In 1771, he produced the first english language new testament 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. According to the british library website, the first book printed in english was the recuyell of the histories of troy, printed by william caxton in 1471. A book as important as the first bible printed in english in america challenges every bibliographer, whatever his specialty, yet the whole question is precisely where thomas left it a century and a quarter ago. Sep 27, 20 that would break records and make it the worlds most expensive printed book. Its the first bible printed in america and in a native american language. William caxton was the first englishman to learn to use a printing press. The recuyell of the histories of troye was the first book caxton printed, and its production appeared to take its toll on a man who was a leading figure in the 15th century english mercantile. Sep 04, 2017 while these might sound like plot points for the latest historical spy thriller, theyre actually real events related to the bay psalm book, a puritan hymnalthe first book printed in what. What was the first book printed in the american colonies.
The bay psalm book is a simple thing, containing psalms translated from hebrew into english in massachusetts. The recuyell of the historyes of troye was his first printed book, and the first book printed anywhere in english. The tiny hymnal was printed in 1640 by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Learning the alphabet went hand in hand with learning calvinist principles in early america. However, the exact location of where the book was printed is unknown. Daye printed the first book in the new world, the bay psalm book, in 1640. Robert aitkens bible was the first known englishlanguage bible to be printed in america, and also the only bible to receive congressional approval. The book was published in 1640 in what is now cambridge, massachusetts in a print shop now long gone, located in what is today harvard square. Other titles included dictes or sayengis of the philosophres, the golden legend, ovids metamorphoses the first ever edition in english, the book of the knight in the tower, and other books. To suggest entries or corrections, please contact the editor. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction it already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south.
The first book printed in british north america, 1640. Prior to this, english language bibles were often available in the colonies, but they had to be imported from england. Dec 04, 2012 the first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. Abebooks visits americas first printed book youtube. Oldest book printed on american soil to go up for sale smart. Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen. 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. Making americas first book in 1620, the pilgrims who sailed on the mayflower most likely brought bibles with them, but theres no definitive evidence about which versions or how many they. Intro william caxton was the first englishman to learn to use a printing press. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america.