Jul 31, 2015 a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under 14. On november 26 night at sothebys new york, one of only 11 surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states of america set a new world auction record for any printed. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed in what is now the us. A tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under 14.
That recordsetting figure dwarfed the auction prices that other great books achieved at the time. It is believed to be the first book ever printed in what is now the united states just 20 years after the pilgrims landed at plymouth rock. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The leonardo da vinci codex hammer, a personal notebook of scientific writings and diagrams, sold for. Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. Nov 27, 20 psalm book sets record at auction a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under 14. Book believed to be first one printed in the us sells for. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The book itself was more than 3 feet in length because. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book. It was the first book printed in british north america.
The bay psalm book sets world record at auction us news. Only 11 copies survive in varying degrees of completeness. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. It was bought by us businessman and philanthropist david. Psalm book sets record at auction a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under 14.
The rare bay psalm book is the first book ever written and printed in what is now the united states. A book of psalms from the seventeenth century has been sold for just over. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Us psalm book from 1640 breaks world record the scotsman. On november 26, 20, sothebys auctioned a 1640 copy owned by bostons old south church. Printed in 1640, its considered to be the first book. A small book of psalms, printed in new england not long after the voyage of the mayflower, is expected to break the record for most expensive text ever sold at auction. Bay psalm book sets an auction record the new york times. Sep 28, 20 the sale will mark the second occasion where a bay psalms book was sold, and the second time it has broken a record. The diminutive book, dating back to 1640, is the first book printed in the new world. A tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in what is now the united states, sold for just under. Rare colonial psalm book from boston church fetches record. Believed to be the first book published in the us, the work has become the most expensive printed book after it was auctioned. 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.
Most expensive printed book guinness world records. The bibles, the first books printed by movable type, heralded the age of mass. Bay psalm book, believed to be first book printed in the. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The bibles, the first books printed by movable type, heralded the. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed. Nov 26, 20 a small book of psalms, printed in new england not long after the voyage of the mayflower, is expected to break the record for most expensive text ever sold at auction.
The sale will mark the second occasion where a bay psalms book was sold, and the second time it has broken a record. A tiny book of psalms, printed in colonial america in 1640 when digital referred to nothing more than fingers and toes has been sold. The bible, printed in 1455 in mainz, germany, is one of 48 surviving of the 185 believed to have been printed at least in part by johann gutenberg. Its sale set a record for a book sold at auction, sothebys said. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book printed in whats now the united states.
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