In Depth:  AbeBooks

A copy of the Bay Psalm Book printed in 1640 was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for £8.8 million back in 2013.

There are only 11 surviving copies and it is considered to be the first book printed in what became the United States, so its historical value is immense. The church who sold it had at one time owned five copies of the book, one of which they will be keeping. Financer and philanthropist David Rubenstein plans to loan the £8.8 million book to various libraries across the United States.