Publication of the Bay Psalm Book
- When
- 1640
- Where
- Cambridge, Colony of Massachusetts Bay
- Episodes
- 1
The Bay Psalm Book, a metrical psalter, was first printed in 1640 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It stands as the first book printed in British North America.
Episodes
Background and detail
Publication Details. The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated into English Metre was first printed in 1640 in Cambridge, Colony of Massachusetts Bay. This work is recognized as the first book printed in British North America.
Printing Operations. The printing press in Cambridge was the first and only press in the colonies. It was owned by Elizabeth Glover and managed by Stephen Daye. The Bay Psalm Book was the third product of this press.
Distribution and Sales. Subsequent editions were printed for sale in Boston by Hezekiah Usher, the first bookseller in British America. It is hypothesized that Usher may have also intended to sell the first edition from his shop in Cambridge.
People involved
- Elizabeth Glover · Press Owner
- Stephen Daye · Press Manager
- Hezekiah Usher · Bookseller
Sources
- Bay Psalm Book Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-05
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.