The Bay Psalm Book, 1903 Facsimile, Special New England Society Issue

Overview:

A scarce and historically important 1903 facsimile of the 1640 Bay Psalm Book, specially prepared for The New England Society in the City of New York, with an introduction by the noted American bibliographer Wilberforce Eames.

This is the New England Society issue, distinguishable from the more commonly encountered Dodd, Mead & Company issue by its specially printed title page reading:

Prepared for The New England Society in the City of New York.

Contemporary bibliographical records distinguish the Society issue separately from the Dodd, Mead edition. The New York Public Library's early bibliography records the Dodd, Mead version as one of 975 copies on plain paper and then lists the New England Society issue separately, with the same Eames introduction and 147-leaf facsimile. WorldCat likewise catalogues the Society issue with the New England Society as publisher.

The Original Bay Psalm Book

First printed by Stephen Daye at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1640, The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre, better known as the Bay Psalm Book, occupies an extraordinary place in the history of printing.

It is generally recognised as the first book printed in British North America. Created for the Puritan congregations of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, it provided a new metrical English translation of the Psalms suitable for congregational singing. The work was associated particularly with the ministers Richard Mather, Thomas Weld and John Eliot.

Original copies of the 1640 printing are among the great rarities of early American printing.

The 1903 Facsimile

This facsimile was produced more than 260 years after the original and was intended to reproduce the typography and appearance of the surviving 1640 copies as faithfully as possible.

It is preceded by an important historical and bibliographical introduction by Wilberforce Eames (1855–1937), one of the leading American bibliographers of his period. His introduction is dated New York, October 1903.

The standard Dodd, Mead issue of the facsimile was explicitly limited to 1,000 copies, comprising 25 copies on Japan paper and 975 on plain paper.

The present copy, however, carries the alternative title page of the New England Society in the City of New York. Bibliographical sources record this Society issue separately from the Dodd, Mead issue. I have not found reliable evidence establishing how many copies were produced specifically for the Society, so no limitation is claimed for this issue.

Interestingly, an example of the Society issue appeared as early as 1922 in an American Art Association auction catalogue, where it was described as being in "boards, cloth back, uncut", closely corresponding to the binding of the present copy.

Contents

The volume reproduces the celebrated 1640 title page:

THE WHOLE BOOKE OF PSALMES Faithfully TRANSLATED into ENGLISH Metre

and continues through the complete sequence of Psalms to Psalm 150 and FINIS, followed by the concluding "An Admonition to the Reader" and "Faults escaped in printing" errata.

The leaves retain their attractive untrimmed/deckled edges, adding considerably to the period appearance of the facsimile.

Binding & Condition

Original paper-covered boards with brown cloth spine, lettered in gilt:

THE BAY PSALM BOOK
CAMBRIDGE 1640

Binding rubbed and worn commensurate with age, with wear and small losses at the head and foot of the spine and rubbing to the board extremities.

Front and back boards show surface splitting, however, boards are still secure and stable.

Internally the book presents very well for its age, with occasional light spotting, toning and handling marks. The leaves retain their original untrimmed edges. The final Psalms, FINIS, admonition and errata are present.

Why Buy This Copy?

This is a particularly interesting version of one of the most important facsimiles of early American printing. Rather than the standard Dodd, Mead & Company title page, this copy bears the special imprint of The New England Society in the City of New York, an issue separately recognised in contemporary bibliographical records.

It offers an opportunity to own an early and carefully produced facsimile of the first book printed in British North America, itself now more than 120 years old, in its original binding and in the less commonly encountered New England Society issue.

Dimensions:

• Weight - 470g
• Height - 20.2cm
• Width - 13.8cm
• Thickness - 2.5cm