Bay Psalm Book. Cambridge, 1640.

The vvhole Booke of Psalmes / faithfully translated into English metre. ; Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullness, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing Scripture psalmes in the churches of God. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]. [Cambridge, Mass. : Stephen Day], Imprinted 1640. [296] p. ; 18 cm. (4to)

The first book printed in British North America, commonly known as the Bay Psalm book. Translated by Richard Mather, John Eliot, and Thomas Weld, among others. The preface is usually attributed to Mather, but this is disputed by Zoltan Haraszti, who attributes it to John Cotton. Cf. Haraszti's The enigma of the Bay Psalm book, 1956, p. 12-27. The edition consisted of 1,700 copies. Printed at the press in Cambridge supervised by Stephen Day (variously Daye). Day's son Matthew may have been responsible for the actual printing. Signatures: *-2*4 A-V4 W4 X-2L4 (2L4 verso blank). "Faults escaped in printing."--p. [295]. Evans 4 STC 2738 Holmes, T.J. Minor Mathers, 53-A. Microopaque. Worcester, Mass. : American Antiquarian Society, 1955-1983. 23 x 15 cm. (Early American imprints. First series ; no. 4).

Other entries: Cotton, John, 1584-1652. Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. Eliot, John, 1604-1690. Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. Weld, Thomas, 1590?-1662. Whole Booke of Psalmes ... Bay Psalm book. Early American imprints. First series ; no. 4.

Call numbers:
• Microfilm of original: UCB NewsMicro MICROPRINT Early American Imprints
• Facsimile edition: UCB Main BS1440 B3 1640b
  The Bay Psalm book; being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by Stephen Daye at Cambridge, in New England in 1640, with an introduction by Wilberforce Eames. New York, Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903. Description: 1 p. ., v-xvii p., facsim.: 1 ., [292] p., 1 . 20 cm. Notes: With reproduction of the original t.-p. "The edition of this facsimile reprint of the Bay Psalm book is limited to 1000 copies, of which 25 copies are on Japan paper and 975 on plain paper." The introduction contains a list of the 10 copies of the first edition of the Bay Psalm book known to be extant, with their present locations. Bible. O.T. Psalms -- Paraphrases, English.. Other entries: Eames, Wilberforce, 1855-1937, ed.