The first christian book printed in english in north america was also the first book printed in north america. 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. Thus the first american printed book was issued in mexico in 1536. Book printing usa is faster than in asia, but the cost is higher. In the first quarter of the 19th century alone, 10,000 pieces of popular music were printed by u. You have a 7th printing, according to your number line not a first printing. Apr 20, 2020 the first dated printed book is the diamon sutra. The spine on both the book and dust jacket have the year 6 badge.
Stricklands history of the american bible society 1849. David redden, director of special projects and worldwide chairman of sothebys books department, commented. First book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. This was purportedly the first telephone book with more than one sheet of paper. Abebooks visits americas first printed book youtube. 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 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. Chairman, and the other honble gentlemen of the committee of congress on mr. Bought by james lenox in 1847, it was the first copy to be acquired by a united states citizen. It was produced in 1473 on the continent, in either bruges or ghent. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Book believed to be first one printed in the us sells for.
This book discusses the history, facts, and geography of the united states in a fun and easy to understand manner. The first book printed in englishthe recuyell of the. Includes identificaton criteria and points of issue to help collectors identify the original book. While there were a few books first printed by other companies, most were from harpers. It was first printed in 1640 by stephen daye, the first printer of the massachusetts bay colony, in cambridge, massachusetts. This book can be used to give a basic overview of the history of the us or to teach us geography to k3rd grade children. The chinese actually printed from movable type in 1040, but later discarding the method. The first book printed in the english language was the recuyell of the histories of troy, issued, about 1475, at bruges. Americas earliest bibles in the early 1600s, the geneva bible became the first bible to be taken across the atlantic to america.
Scholastic publishes the first book, renamed harry potter and the sorcerers stone, in the united states. 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. 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. Often the usa quality compared to our manufactured books, cant compare. Save money by ordering custom books in shortrun digital and bulk offset quantities. First book ever printed in america valued at a record. The first dated book printed in england is the dictes and. This is the printing plant number, and it signifies the printing press where the american editions were produced. Called the bible of the revolution it was the first englishlanguage bible printed in america and the only bible ever authorized by an act of congress. Book printed in america for the flock of puritans who founded massachusetts bay colony in 1630, a physical break from the church of england wasnt enough. May 18, 2018 however, the exact location of where the book was printed is unknown. It was the first book printed in british north america. Although there is no exact date known, between 618 and 907 adthe period of the tang dynastythe first printing of books started in china. Asked in books and literature what was the first book in england to be printed in english.
As with many things, the reasons that this unprepossessinglooking book came into existence at all vary from the almost cosmic to what may seem trivial to some people today. Book printing usa keeping business here in the usa, but it costs more than printing in china and asia. If you have a zane grey book printed by someone else, chances are that it is not a first edition. The first bible printed in america a leaf from john eliots algonquin native american indian language bible. In 1968, the american bible society published a reprint of the aitken bible. Printing presses were large, expensive machines that required. 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. 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. Or maybe you just want to know how good it feels to hold your very own printed book in your hands. The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called the bay psalm book. 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.
How to identify first editions or a first printing of harry. 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. The twoway the decision to sell a piece of north american history has sparked intense debate at old south. May 30, 2007 it is the very first book printed in what is now the united states. Maybe you just want to print one proof copy of your own book to see how good our book printing is. Many people are shocked to discover that the first bible printed in america was not english or any other european language. In 1452, johannes gutenberg a german blacksmith craftsman, goldsmith, printer, and inventor printed copies of the bible on the gutenberg press, an innovative printing press machine that used movable type. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre commonly known as the bay psalm book, was the first book printed in. It was completed in 1564 and printed at the state print yard by. The bay psalm book, the first book printed in the american colonies cambridge.
An extensive introduction, discussing fully the plan and method of this effort to chronicle the work of the pioneer printers of the united states, will be found in volume i. 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. 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. We have no tangible evidence of this little volume, no copies appear to.
Really, the only books that have any collectible value are the first three in the series. By the time we get to the 4th book the first run print numbers were so high that the value drops considerably. But neither printing nor movable type was actually invented by johannes gutenberg, nor did he print the first book. 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. Print your own book single book printing one off book. Dec 04, 2012 the first book printed in british north america and a churchs decision to sell it. The industry, however, did nothing to promote music or develop writers. First printed book in america expected to fetch up to. It is the first book printed in what is now the united states. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Nov 27, 2017 johannes gutenberg invented the printing press around 1440 and the holy bible, popularly known as gutenberg bible or 42line bible, is widely acclaimed as the first major book mass printed in europe with the movable metal type printing press tha. Some scholars have theorized that it was printed in ghent or bruges.
Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. On september 12, 1782, the full congress approved that bible, and it soon began rolling. Asked in inventions, bible statistics and history, newspapers and magazines what was the first book printed in the english language. The book of common prayer was the first book printed in ireland, and shortly after its printing the new liturgy was formally introduced into ireland at christ church cathedral, dublin, on easter.
History of printing timeline american printing history. 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. New york a tiny book of psalms from 1640, believed to be the first book printed in whats now the united states, sold for just under. The first to establish a hebrew printingpress and to cut hebrew type according to ginsburg was abraham ben hayyim dei tintori, or dei pinti, in 1473. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. In 1763, saur produced the first bible printed on paper manufactured in america, and in 1776, saur produced the first bible printed from type manufactured in america all of which were in the german language. As seth perry explains in bible culture and authority in the early united states 2018, the original edition of stricklands history was full of factual errors, including the claim that the first congress printed and circulated. Sep 18, 2017 the first publication ever printed in russia, with a known date, was the acts and epistles of the apostles also known as apostle.
In fact, it was not until 1640 that the first book was printed in america. 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. Where the first russian books were printed russia beyond. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. The first bible printed in america sign up for the book minute among the many bibles on display at museum of the bible in washington, dc, is a first edition of the socalled eliot indian bible. First edition points and criteria for harry potter and the.
You will also notice in the above picture the phrase printed in the u. The diamond sutra was printed by method of woodblock printing, a strenuous method in which. 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. It already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. Condition is very important to the value of a book.
The first three books in the series seem to have come out of a single printing plant. 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. While the book was the first book to be printed in english, it certainly was not the first to be printed in england. The first book printed in america rare books digest. The printing of the book was not only pivotal in developing religious expression and a political culture in the colonies but it. It is the very first book printed in what is now the united states. Nov 14, 20 abebooks visits americas first printed book. However, it makes sense for short run hardcover and. The first song published under us was the kentucky volunteer, by carrs own house. 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. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. First book printed in america april 6, 20 written by zim this copy of the bay book of psalms is owned by the john carter brown library at brown university and is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist and one of only four perfect copies. Book printing usa for selfpublishers star print brokers.
Johannes gutenberg is often credited as the inventor of the printing press in 1454. The bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. First book of america first book of countries series. Whatever the reason, thanks to this special single book offer, you can print a book extremely affordably. Library of congress showcases first book printed in u.
Among the many bibles on display at museum of the bible in washington, dc, is a first edition of the socalled eliot indian bible. The first bible printed in america museum of the bible. He printed the first hebrew book in 1474 tur yoreh deah. This humble and wellworn hymnal was printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye, first printer of the massachusetts bay colony. John eliot, a cambridge scholar and christian missionary, was a gifted translator and linguist.
Its the first bible printed in america and in a native american language. So if you ask the printer to print 10,000 copies of a book and then you sell them all and go back and ask for another 7,500 copies, the first 10,000 copies was the first printing. A popular book may have had dozens of additional printings causing its first printing to be the most valuable. Most first editions zane grey books were published by harpers. Warren throckmorton christian blog and commentary on. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. Jul 15, 2010 you have a 7th printing, according to your number line not a first printing.
How to identify first editions or a first printing of a book. Pictures of the true first edition of harry potter and the sorcerers stone u. The diamond sutra, a buddhist book from dunhuang, china from around 868 a. Womens studio workshop is founded by tatana kellner, ann kalmbach, anita wetzel, and barbara leoff burge in rosendale, new york. 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. The first book printed in british north america and. Pending its appearance, i may remind the reader that the present work represents the first attempt at a history of american printing for 126 years, since the publication in.
The first book published in what is now the usa was a puritan hymnal called. Newspapers and pamphlets dominated publishing in eighteenthcentury america. The crazy story behind the first book published in the future. Printing facilities numbers appearing on deathly hallows books are 12, 23, 37, 40, plus others. Consequently, in 1781, a plan was advanced in congress to print americas first englishlanguage bible. William caxton was the first englishman to learn to use a printing press. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Tang dynasty the first printing is performed in china, using ink on carved wooden blocks.
993 1180 422 482 845 176 1170 913 1319 1475 1443 689 1526 114 1374 149 284 1434 1173 1075 315 1491 1254 1038 57 701 288 1319 487 383 668 618 1097