Psalm book sold at auction

Nov 26, 20 the last time a bay psalm book went for sale was in 1947. 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. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the u. By the age of ten, toms dad would drop him off at coin shows within driving range, picking him up. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The bay psalm book, which was auctioned tuesday at sothebys in new york city, set an auction record for a printed book, according to the. Rare bay psalm book goes on view at sothebys the new. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york.

Dispute heats up over who should keep lunar bibles from. Rubenstein works for an investment firm in washington, dc, and according to the new york times, rubenstein plans to lend it to libraries across the country. The 1640 bay psalm book was the first book written in british america and the first book printed in english in the new world. Rare colonial psalm book from boston church fetches record. The rare book hub offers tools for the book collector and bookseller, especially old and rare books, antique or antiquarian books, hard to find, out of print, and collectible collectable books. That recordsetting figure dwarfed the auction prices that other great books achieved at the time. Also covers rare book auctions, manuscripts, ephemera, broadsides, maps, prints, posters, bibliography, first editions, incunabula and catalogs. Rare book hub rare books, book auctions, antiquarian. The translation of biblical psalms the bay psalm book was printed by puritan settlers in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640 and was sold at a onelot auction by sothebys. It is believed that there are currently just 11 copies of the bay psalm book in. Its going to be far and away the most expensive book ever sold, david. The reason that itis so special is that it was the first book ever printed in what is now the united states.

From comic books to basics of gold, the bible, classic and modern masterpieces of literature, there is a variety of works catering diverse styles and tastes. It is thought to be the first book printed in what became the united states. Nov 12, 2012 contains the following inscription on the flyleaf. Books, magazines, and papers offer a glimpse at different time periods, which is just a part of what makes them such precious collectibles. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. New york rns on a dark, damp and expensive tuesday night at sothebys auction house in manhattan, one of the 11 surviving copies of the bay psalm book, the first book and the first book of scripture printed in english in america, was sold for the highest price ever recorded for a print book in open sale.

The book was created in 1640, approximately 20 years after the pilgrims had arrived in cambridge massachusetts. Sothebys to recall hebrew books it sold the new york. That was more than auction prices at the time for the gutenberg bible. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Collectors can often find interesting examples of rare books at auction. It already held a record as the first book printed in english in north america. It marked the highest price ever paid for a printed book, and the last public trade of a copy of the bay psalm book. The bay psalm book sets the record for the most expensive english language book ever sold. List of most expensive books and manuscripts wikipedia. With an international team of 15 renowned specialists and live auctions held throughout the year in london, paris and new york, we are the market leaders in this category. Ours sell for much less than that, and are in excellent condition. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale.

It will go on display in libraries across the united states. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. At the age of six he began with sea shells, and soon graduated to coins, the gateway drug to so many other fields of collecting. Printed in 1640, its considered to be the first book.

Bay psalm book auction smashes record for print book with. A copy of john james audubons birds of america was the previous recordholder, selling for 11. 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 journal is occasionally on display at various museums.

The little volume of psalms, one of only 11 known to exist out of roughly. The last time a bay psalm book went for sale was in 1947. The most expensive book sold at auction the bay psalm. The book, printed for sale by hezekiah usher circa 16151676 of boston, has some question marks that have been longstanding among scholars and bibliographers and may not be soon erased. The first book printed in british north america is expected to set a world. One of the most highly soughtafter items in the world of antiquarian books. Dispute heats up over who should keep lunar bibles from apollo 14 mission.

Old south church copy of the bay of psalms being sold at auction in. Sothebys holds the record for any printed book with the bay pslam book, the first book printed in the colonies in 1640 by the puritans of the massachusetts bay colony. A collection of ancient and rare bibles and biblical manuscripts belonging to the deceased theologian charles ryrie will be sold at auction according to, ryrie, who passed away last january and was known for being a proponent of dispensationalist theology and writing a widelyread study bible, was also an avid collector of rare bibles and manuscripts. The leonardo da vinci codex hammer, a personal notebook of scientific writings and diagrams, sold for. It is also the most expensive book ever sold at auction.

Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. In 20 it sold again at auction, and broke its own record when billionaire david rubenstein purchased it. 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. Its purchase not being approved, the book was withdrawn by. The bay psalm book is believed to be the first book.