Title:The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre (Bay Psalm Book)
Edition: 1903 Facsimile Reprint (Limited to 1000 copies; 25 on Japan paper, 975 on plain paper)
Publisher: Dodd, Mead & Co.
Editor/Intro: Introduction by Wilberforce Eames
History of the Item
The Bay Psalm Book holds a special place in American history as the first book printed in British North America, originally produced in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1640 by Stephen Daye. Only 11 known copies of the original 1640 edition survive to this day today.
Recognizing the cultural significance of the work, the New England Society commissioned this 1903 facsimile edition, faithfully reproducing the text and typography of the 1640 original. With a limitation of just 1000 copies, it has become a collectible edition in its own right, bridging scholarly study and historical preservation.
Why Collect This Book?
Historical Importance: Represents the foundation of American printing and Puritan religious life.
Limited Edition: Only 1000 copies issued in 1903, making it scarce in its own right.
Scholarly Value: Includes an introduction by noted bibliographer Wilberforce Eames.
Affordable Alternative: While originals are effectively unobtainable, this facsimile offers an authentic reproduction at a fraction of the cost.
Decorative Appeal: A handsome example for display in any Americana, rare book, or theology collection.
Condition:
Binding: The cover and spine has some wearing/light scraping and a small amount of "fraying" on the corners.
Pages: Pages are clean and fully legible, with some foxing found throughout the book and the leaves containing psalms 22 has large staining. (Please see above photos for reference)
Structural: Sound, no damage to the overall binding and all pages are secure within the book.
