The first book in irish was printed in edinburgh, a translation of john knox s liturgy by john carswell, bishop of the hebrides. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. Ten bits of trivia about the gutenberg bible, a book created by johannes. Save money by ordering custom books in shortrun digital and bulk offset quantities. It is the first book printed in what is now the united states. First edition points and criteria for harry potter and the. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The first book printed in englishthe recuyell of the. More about the number to the right of printed in u. Asked in inventions, bible statistics and history, newspapers and magazines what was the first book printed in the english language. 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. Back then, printing was limited in the number of editions made and nearly exclusively decorative, used for.
The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The rhyming puritan ministers were well aware of their limitations as poets, declaring that the verses are not always so smooth and elegant, but gods altar needs not our polishings. 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.
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. To a book collector the phrase first edition refers to a book that was released during the first printing of the first edition they call this book a 1st1st. The bay psalm book, the first book printed in the american colonies cambridge. The postrevolutionary period was notable for the arrival of the first professional music publishers from europe in the 1770s. 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 first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in. The first book that was printed and made available using this new printing.
The french original was compiled in the year 1464 by raoul le fevre, chaplain to philip, duke of burgundy, and, four years later, caxton began to translate it into english. Book are still known to exist, of which only five copies are complete. The chinese actually printed from movable type in 1040, but later discarding the method. 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. Irvings vivid imagery involving the wild supernatural pursuit by the headless horseman has sustained interest in this popular folktale through many printed editions, as well as film. The first book printed in the english language was the recuyell of the histories of troy, issued, about 1475, at bruges. John eliot, a cambridge scholar and christian missionary, was a gifted translator and linguist. Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen. If the initial print run of this first edition sells out and the publisher decides to produce a subsequent printing with the same typeset the book would be described as. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language.
As of 2018, several firms in the united states rank among the worlds biggest publishers of. Arno press, 1968, introduction to this aitken bible reprint. How do we know what europes first printed book was. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. The first bible printed in america museum of the bible. 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. The earliest dated printed book known is diamond sutra, printed in china in 868 ce. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. You have a 7th printing, according to your number line not a first printing. A rare surviving copy right is on display at the rosenbach museum. The first printed books in the romanian language, tetraevanghelul and intrebare crestineasca also known as catehismul are printed by coresi in brasov. Spanish america, colonized before british america, housed the first printing press. Includes identificaton criteria and points of issue to help collectors identify the original book.
Sothebys said rubenstein plans to loan it to libraries across the united states, before it will be put on longterm loan to one of them. The first book printed in british north america and a churchs. Its the first bible printed in america and in a native american language. By the time we get to the 4th book the first run print numbers were so. This data, provided as an aid to students, was compiled from. Some scholars deliberate whether john eliots the christian commonwealth written in the late 1640s or william pynchons the meritorious price of our redemption 1650 was the first book to be banned by the puritans for theological or historical reasons, but americas first officiallybanned book was thomas mortons new english canaan. The first book printed in america rare books digest. Pictures of the true first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. The italian juan pablos set up an imported press in mexico city in 1539. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
Even before printing books from movable type, the chinese used wooden blocks to print. Feel the magic with harry potter first edition antiquarian collectible books. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing to be the most valuable. Print books in vibrant full color on premium gloss or matte paper delivered to your doorstep as fast as 3 business days from proof approval. 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 spine on both the book and dust jacket have the year 6 badge. Daye printed the first book in the new world, the bay psalm book, in 1640. The first printing press to come to british america arrived in the winter of 163839. The first three books in the series seem to have come out of a single printing. Library of congress showcases first book printed in u. Until the 18th century this question was open to speculation. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts.
William caxton was the first englishman to learn to use a printing press. The first printing press in southeast asia was set up in the philippines by the spanish in 1593. One of the first works of fiction by an american author to become popular outside the united states, washington irvings the legend of sleepy hollow was first published as part of the sketchbook in 1820. History of printing timeline american printing history.
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. Tying back to my original question, ive specifically noticed that volumes 16, 19, 20, 22 and 26 in my collection right now are completely missing the printed in the united states of america marker that is present in all of my other copies so far. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. 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. It was the first book printed in british north america. It was produced in 1473 on the continent, in either bruges or ghent. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after. Really, the only books that have any collectible value are the first three in the series. Looking at book sales by year, 2005 to 2010 were the most lucrative for the printed book market, with well over 700 million units sold annually during that fiveyear period. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for between fifteen and thirty million dollars, which would make it the most expensive book in the world. History of printing timeline american printing history association. Only one of the eleven copies is currently held outside the united states. This is the printing plant number, and it signifies the printing press where the american editions were produced.
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. We have no tangible evidence of this little volume, no copies appear to have survived the tides of time. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. He printed a book about the two lovers of enea piccolomini who became pope pius ii. 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.
The crazy story behind the first book published in the future. The recuyell of the historyes of troye was his first printed book, and the first book printed anywhere in english. The crazy story behind the first book published in the. First book ever printed in america valued at a record. It is the very first book printed in what is now the united states. The printing of the book was not only pivotal in developing religious expression and a political culture in the colonies but it. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made. The space beneath the boy reading his book in these particular volumes is completely blank. This humble and wellworn hymnal was printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye, first printer of the massachusetts bay colony. The harry potter books are a childrens fantasy series written by the bestselling author j.
Book believed to be first one printed in the us sells for. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. In 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, stephen daye produced the first book printed in british north america, the bay psalm book. Thus the first american printed book was issued in mexico in 1536. Due to its fairly large size and clear type, unlike all the small coatpocket american bibles and new testaments that had come before it, the 1791 isaac collins bible became known as the first family bible printed in america. Seventeen hundred copies of the bay psalm book were printed in its first edition. 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. The gutenberg bibel was the first book printed in the way we know it today. The book series follows the adventures of harry potter during his time spent at hogwarts school and his faceoffs against the dark wizard voldemort. However, it is suspected that book printing may have occurred long before this date. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. In 1764, josiah flagg compiled the first collection of popular and religious music, printed on paper made in the colonies. But neither printing nor movable type was actually invented by johannes gutenberg, nor did he print the first book. By 1791, he had produced 5,000 copies of the first bible printed in new jersey.
59 321 837 357 361 790 1279 639 1049 280 310 1245 525 1129 161 1364 468 1399 290 1066 1105 1588 1183 40 677 686 1493 1438 267 552 77