The Bay Psalm Book, a "tiny hymnal from 1640 believed to be the first book ever printed in what is now the United States, will be auctioned by Sotheby's on November 26 and could go for as much as $30 million, the Associated Press reported. Only 11 copies of the book survive and members of Boston's Old South Church have authorized the sale of one of its two copies.
"It's a spectacular book, arguably one of the most important books in this nation's history," said the Rev. Nancy Taylor, senior minister and CEO of the church.
The Bay Psalm Book is "an iconic piece. It's the beginning of literate America," said Mark Dimunation, chief of rare books and special collections at the Library of Congress. "American poetry, American spirituality and the printed page all kind of combine and find themselves located in a single volume. But there's also something much more modest and humble about this piece, which makes its survival all the most extraordinary."
