Jay Lindsay reports on a Boston congregation (Old South Church) vote to sell their ~400 year old copy of the Bay Psalm Book:
BOSTON — The first book printed in what would become the United States was a Puritan hymnal of psalms, sturdy enough that 11 copies that came off a wooden Cambridge press in 1640 still exist.
Now, a copy of the Bay Psalm Book may bring millions of dollars to the Boston church that owns it - if a divided congregation agrees in a vote Sunday to sell it.
The book, combined with a Colonial-era silver collection it may also sell, could bring tens of millions of dollars to the Old South Church. Leaders say the money is badly needed to restore the historic building and keep vital ministries going.
"What we're talking about is taking objects our forebears have given us that were used for mission and ministry, to repurpose in continuing mission and ministries," said Old South Senior minister Rev. Nancy Taylor.
But church historian Jeff Makholm said the artifacts are more than things - they're links to Old South's predecessors that can't be severed without damaging the spiritual mission they established. "We use these things to sermonize and to inspire and to project our faith into the world," Makholm said.
The translations of the Biblical Psalms for Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony aren't considered elegant, but the linen and cotton rag paper they were printed on made 11 Bay Psalm Books strong enough to survive for nearly 400 years.
David Redden, vice chairman of Sotheby's, which evaluated the book and silver collection for the church, said the book could bring a staggering $20 million to $25 million.(HT: Dad)
"It's the most famous unknown book in the world," Redden said.
