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Book/Printed Material [The vvhole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the churches of God] ... Title commonly known as: Bay Psalm book / Whole Booke of Psalmes

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Title

  • [The vvhole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the churches of God] ...

Other Title

  • Title commonly known as: Bay Psalm book
  • Whole Booke of Psalmes

Summary

  • The Bay Psalm Book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in British North America. The Reverend Jesse Glover imported the first printing press to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first English settlers landed at Plymouth Rock. A London printer, Stephen Daye, came with the press and established a printing office in Cambridge. The following year, the residents of the colony asked John Eliot, Thomas Welde, and Richard Mather to undertake a new translation from the Hebrew of the Book of Psalms, for use in the colony's churches. Mather was the principal author and translator, but was assisted by about 30 other New England ministers. The book was printed in 1640. Reissued in successive editions, it remained in use for more than 100 years. This copy, from the Library of Congress, is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist. The copy is imperfect; 19 leaves, including the title page, are missing. The original calf binding, with traces of two clasps, is present. The Library of Congress Bay Psalm Book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the Library of Congress in May 1966 by Mrs. Adrian Van Sinderen of Washington, Connecticut. World Digital Library.

Names

  • Cotton, John, 1584-1652.
  • Day, Matthew, -1649, printer.
  • Day, Stephen, 1594?-1668, printer.
  • Eliot, John, 1604-1690.
  • Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.
  • Van Sinderen, Adrian, 1887-1963, former owner.
  • Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662.
  • American Imprint Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • [Cambridge, Mass.] : Imprinted [by S. Daye, 1640]

Headings

  • -  Bible.--Psalms--Paraphrases, English
  • -  Music in churches
  • -  Psalmody
  • -  United States--Massachusetts--Cambridge

Notes

  • -  "Faults escaped in printing."--p. [295].
  • -  LC copy accompanied by envelope containing related clippings, photocopies, and notes related to LC's copy, ca. 35 items.
  • -  LC copy imperfect: t.p. and 18 leaves wanting.
  • -  Printed at the press in Cambridge, Mass., supervised by Stephen Day (variously Daye). Day's son Matthew may have been responsible for the actual printing. Cf. ESTC.
  • -  The first book printed in British North America, commonly known as the Bay Psalm book. Translated by Richard Mather, John Eliot, and Thomas Weld, among others. The preface is possibly by Mather, but could be by John Cotton. Cf. Zoltan Haraszti, The enigma of the Bay Psalm book, 1956, p. 12-27.
  • -  Title from the Bay Psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed. of 1640 [Chicago, 1956].
  • -  ESTC (RLIN) W15144
  • -  Evans 4
  • -  NUC pre-1956 NBi 0026282
  • -  Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.
  • -  LC copy is the Van Sinderen copy, described in the Quarterly Journal of the Library of Congress, v. 24, 1967, p. 186-[187], 204-205; see also Zoltán Haraszti, The enigma of the Bay Psalm book [Chicago, 1956] chapter X.
  • -  LAC brd 2018-12-03 update (2 cards)
  • -  LAC ecr 2019-01-28 no edits (1 card)
  • -  LC copy not examined, vj23 2006-12-12
  • -  RSL card lists call number BS440.B4 1640 Copy 1 in the American Imprint Colletcion. LAC ecr 2019-01-28

Medium

  • [296] p. ; 19 cm. (4to)

Call Number/Physical Location

  • BS1440 .B4 1640

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 71002405

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Cotton, John, Matthew Day, Stephen Day, John Eliot, Richard Mather, Adrian Van Sinderen, Thomas Weld, and American Imprint Collection. The vvhole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the churches of God. [Cambridge, Mass.: Imprinted by S. Daye, 1640] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/71002405/.

APA citation style:

Cotton, J., Day, M., Day, S., Eliot, J., Mather, R., Van Sinderen, A. [...] American Imprint Collection. (1640) The vvhole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the churches of God. [Cambridge, Mass.: Imprinted by S. Daye] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/71002405/.

MLA citation style:

Cotton, John, et al. The vvhole booke of Psalmes faithfully translated into English metre. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture Psalmes in the churches of God. [Cambridge, Mass.: Imprinted by S. Daye, 1640] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/71002405/>.