The bay psalm book was printed on a press sent with paper and type from england by locksmith stephen daye. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. On november 26, 20, sothebys auctioned a 1640 copy owned by bostons old south church. And while the faithful translation into english meter of the whole booke of psalmes could be accomplished with men and materials already in massachusetts bay colony, its. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sotheby s will auction one of the 11 surviving copies in the dedicated auction. But the bay psalm book, as it is known, has a special place in bibliophiles hearts, so much so that michael inman, the curator of rare books at the new york public library, said the auction was likely to set a record, even though the bay psalm book was not a particularly attractive book. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mediocre night at sothebys, as onethird of the art does not.
Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your first box. Rare biblical manuscript eludes sothebys sale luxury insider. The sternhold and hopkins text was frequently appended to editions of the geneva bible and the book of common prayer, a circumstance acknowledged in the preface to the bay psalm book. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. New york, 12 april 20 on 26 november 20, sothebys new york will auction one of the finest surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states of america. Midnineteenthcentury black morocco over bevelled boards, probably bostonian, the covers panelled in blind, spine in six compartments, giltlettered psalmes in the second and imprinted 1640 in the sixth, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, corners bumped, joints and hinges repaired. The book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. Experts have confirmed that it is the first ever bound book published and printed in america. A1r, psalm 1 of course, the massachusetts bay puritans had psalters in england, and they undoubtedly carried to the new world both henry ainsworths version of the psalms in prose and meter and the poetical paraphrases of thomas sternhold and john hopkins. Nov 27, 20 it s a book that has set a world record. Beautifully illustrated with more than 400 images and 100 brandnew. Sothebys the bay psalm book auction catalog 20 ebay.
Printed in 1640, its considered to be the first book. Selby kiffer, international senior specialist in sothebys asserted that the bay psalm book is not merely a book but has acquired the status of one of the greatest artifacts of american history. On wednesday, four bidders fought over picassos le sauvetage, or rescue, a 1932 scene of bathers on the beach. In fact, only slightly more than half of the 117 lots offered on auction at sothebys western manuscripts and miniatures and the korner sale found new owners. Sotheby s does not currently have any hardcopy reports on. En route to sothebys, bay psalm book traces nations. 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 the first time a copy. Oldest surviving bay psalm book to be auctioned by sotheby. Sothebys, the bay psalm book, new york, 26 november 20.
Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special projects, as they explore the books incalculable significance in advance of its historic auction at sothebys new york on 26 november. Additionally, the first verse of psalm 100 z4v has a contemporary manuscript emendation. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 1623. The irrevocable bidder, who may bid in excess of the irrevocable bid, will be compensated based on the final hammer price in the event he or she is not the successful bidder. Jul 21, 2015 a rare trove of 11thousand hebrew books and manuscripts went on display at sotheby s in new york city this week, as the auction house seeks to find a buyer for what s considered the greatest. The puritan translation and printing of the whole booke.
The new sothebys wine encyclopedia by tom stevenson. The reception and continued significance of the bay psalm book. James bliss austin, property from the collection of lydia winston malbin, property of a new england collector, property of various owners, the freidus collection of baroque book illustration. View auction details, art exhibitions and online catalogues.
A copy belonging to bostons old south church will be auctioned by sothebys on nov. Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. One of eleven surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states, and one of the worlds most valuable books. Woodcut illustration on a1v of tenor of the whole psalmes in foure partes whiche may be song to al musicall instrumentes, set forth for the encrease of vertue.
It will go on display in libraries across the united states. At work, 67yearold jerry greene would sell old music and movies through his website. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. But it is as a book and not as a text, that the bay psalm book is best known, celebrated, and revered. 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. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site.
Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. The most expensive printed book sold at auction will go on display to the public after the buyer pledged to lend it to libraries across the us before putting it on permanent loan at one of them. Bay psalm book the worlds most expensive book that sold. Sothebys new owners quickly changed it from a collegial, somewhat pokey enterprise into a suave, cosmopolitan clearinghouse for old masters and objets dart. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new. The book is a great read, and for those who appeared foolish, they have only themselves to blame together with the fact that the auction business is not one known for honesty, as sotheby s found out when they were recorded smuggling a painting, but that s another book. Includes printing, bindings, natural history, and sports. Fully updated and revised for the first time since 2011, this new 800page edition of sotheby s wine encyclopedia reflects the most recent trends in the dynamic world of wine, written by experts around the globe. Jun 08, 20 sothebys international realty inherited the iconic brand name, building on its legacy by delivering unrivaled real estate services. While it is not a numismatic work, nevertheless, i thought that this article about what may be the worlds most expensive book would be of interest to readers. Click the button below to request a report when hardcopies become available. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale.
Bay psalm book, first book printed in america, sells for. Adopting ainsworths book of psalmes would inevitably link the puritans with the separatist pilgrims. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but. A book is also a considerate option when giving to an acquaintance such as a coworker. If one or more works are by a distinct, homonymous authors, go ahead and split the author. Rare hebrew books and manuscripts on display at sothebys. They are a onesizefitsall solution to the problem of what to buy for a loved one. Printed in 1640 by puritans in massachusetts, the bay psalm book one. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Bay psalm book, believed to be first book printed in the. According to msn, one of the 11 surviving copies of the. They are items that provide hours of enjoyment for the recipient. Inside the sotheby s christie s auction house scandal by mason, christopher isbn.
Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The real force behind sothebys modern transformation, and its shifting into ethical gray areas, was peter wilson, who joined in 1936. Printed in 1640, it s considered to be the first book. The letter is erroneously said in the catalogue to have been written on 12 december 1949 correct date is 18 december. With the addition of a complete list of works and essays by writers michael bracewell and amie corry that investigate the historical and conceptual background to the works, the complete psalm paintings is an exquisite companion to one of hirsts most beautiful series. The bay psalm book was intended as a utilitarian book for the common people in a way that the gutenberg bible surely was not, and copies were subjected to hard and constant use. At home, he and his wife, nina, would play with trainscollecting more than 35,000 pieces over. Sothebys sells fragment of gutenberg bible artnet news. After making its rounds, the aston was stripped for parts, and sold, where the owner squirreled it away into a garage for 43 years. The translation of biblical psalms the bay psalm book was printed by puritan settlers in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640 and sold at a onelot auction in just minutes by. En route to sotheby s, bay psalm book traces nations seesaw religious history. Only 11 copies of the bay psalm book survive in varying degrees of completeness. A total of 1,700 copies were made but just 11 remain intact today.
Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. 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. C3v, psalm 18, showing the brevier type in the heading the type of the bay psalm book, unlike the paper, was of english manufacture. The intended use of the bay psalm book tells us why it was americas first book. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new york.
Lots with this symbol indicate that a party has provided sothebys with an irrevocable bid on the lot that will be executed during the sale. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The bay psalm book in the libbie auction catalogue of the livermore library. Oct 19, 2012 sotheby s fine books and manuscripts december 11 2006 is an auction catalogue from sotheby s new york, which includes a photograph and transcribed excerpts from a letter from j. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence.
The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. Sep 18, 2015 this sothebys special, or ogle special, was used on the show circuit, where it made its official public debut as the crown jewel of the 1972 montreal motor show. May 08, 2014 mediocre night at sothebys, as onethird of the art does not sell. In the 1640s, the congregationalist puritans emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom. About 7 inches high and 4 inches wide, it is largely undecorated. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance.
Sotheby s, author of the duke and duchess of windsor, on librarything librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers home groups talk zeitgeist. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Mar 07, 2014 witold k the artist witold in his studio on august 27, 1969. Color and black and white illustrations throughout. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work became the most expensive printed book after it was. A polish emigre, he was an early police suspect in the tate murders, and was under a 24 hour guard murderpedia website. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. Billionaire david rubenstein buys colonial bay psalm book.
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