there is a copy of " The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs" printed in 1651 by Samuel Green, the successor of Stephen Daye, New England's first typographer. This little volume - only 2 1/2x4 1/4 inches in size - of about 400 pages, is known as the THIRD edition of the Bay Psalm Book. It is of greater rarity (for this, I understand, is the only copy of it known) than its predecessor and namesake which enjoys the distinction of being the first book printed in British North America, but it is hardly necessary to add that it does not approach it in money value.
It came from Mr. Charles H. Kalbfleisch's remarkable collection, whom it is said to have cost one thousand dollars, and was presented to the Library by Mr. Alexander Maitland. It is well and stoutly bound in brown calf, the covers held together by leathern and brass clasps, the only attempt at ornamentation being a narrow gold line traced around the borders of each side, a small centre ornament, and the initials F. B. If it is, as we presume, the original binding, it is one of the earliest examples extant of bookbinding executed in the Province of Massachusetts, and consequently in this part of North America, for the old Bay State may pride itself upon having been the cradle of Bibliopegy, as well as of Typography, in the new and unsettled land of our forefathers. This edition of the Psalms turned into Metre is known as the "Bay Psalm Book Improved." The nature of the revision which the first issue of this noted book underwent, will be seen by the parallels we have drawn below of the first, second and sixth stanzas, of the First Psalm, in the two editions.
1640 1 O Blessed man, That in th' advice of wicked doeth not walk; nor stand in sinners way, nor sit in chayre of scornfull folk. But in the law of Jehovah, is his longing delight: and in his law doth meditate by day and eke by night. For of the righteous men the Lord acknowledgeth the way: but the way of ungodly men, shall utterly decay. |
1651 1 O blessed man yt walks not in th' advice of wich men Nor standeth in ye sinners way nor scorners sits in. But be upon Jehovah's law doth get its whole delight; And in his law doth meditate both in the day and night. For of the righteous men the LORD acknowlegeth the way Whereas the way of wicked men shall utterly decay. |
The Bay Psalm Book passed through many editions without further alterations, until it was revised in 1758, by the devout and learned theologian, Rev. Thomas Prince.
The copy of this edition in the Lenox Library is probably in its original morocco binding, for the same tooling precisely appears upon a more ordinary copy of the book, bound in dark brown calf of which the same library is the owner. Special care was doubtless taken with this particular book, as it was a presentation copy from the reverend author to " The Honourable Thomas Huchinson Esq., Lieut. Govr.y &c., of The Province of the Massachusetts Bay in NE" but whether it was bound in England or this country is a question the writer admits his inability to answer. A full account of the Bay Psalm Book and of the numerous American, English and Scotch editions through which it passed, will be found in " A History of Music in New England" by George Hood, Boston, 1846. The last edition of this noted Psalmody issued in this country, was in the year 1762.
Our first typographers were, as has been already stated, of necessity their own bookbinders. The columns of our early colonial newspapers contain, almost without exception, advertisements announcing the preparedness of the printers and publishers thereof, to undertake the binding of books. These paragraphs recur as constantly as do the now seemingly shameful proclamations of rewards offered for the return of runaway slaves, and notices of slaves for sale, which, with news from Europe three to six months old, make up the contents of these little weazen-faced, sallow-complected four-page journals. In Mr. William Bradford's Gazette the following advertisement appears, with the regularity of clock-work :
" Printed and sold by William Bradford in New York where advertisements are taken in and where you may have old books, new Bound, either Plain or Gilt, and Money for Linen Rags." The copy in the Lenox Library of "The Mohawk Prayer Book"* translated by Lawrence Claesse, and printed by Bradford in 1715, is believed to be in its original binding. If this be so, it supplies, I take for granted, an example of the "plain " bindings, which our proto-typographer announces, as above, his ability to execute. It is a binding of " dull and ugly plainness " in sprinkled sheep, the edges spattered with red, but mind ye! should you strip off that old time-stained leather jacket
* Mohawk Prayer-Book. " The Morning and Evening Prayer, the Litany, Church Catechism, Family Prayers, and Several Chapters of the Old and New-Testament, translated into the Mahaque Indian Language, by Lawrence Claesse, Interpreter to William Andrews, Missionary to the Indians, from the Honourable and Reverend the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. " Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine Inheritance and the Utmost Parts of the Earth for thy Possession, Psalm 2.8." Printed by William Bradford in New York, 1715.
and replace it with one in crushed levant, triple-gilt by Chambolle, Lortic, or some other Maitre moderne de Bibliopegie du premier rangy you would simply rob it of at least one-half its value, in the eyes of every Book-Antiquary of judgment and experience.
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