Note: records and links mentioned in this article are listed at the end of page 4]
Boston today is a field of skyscrapers interspersed with patches of history that live on as old buildings and parks and curbside historical plates to explain long-ago significance. Among these many historic icons is the Old South Church at 645 Boylston on Copley Square opposite the Boston Public Library. In its present location since the 19th century it has maintained its place in the ancient downtown even as the streets have widened and neighbors one by one succumbed to the blandishments of progress and money. Through its nearly three hundred and fifty years the church has held on to its royal place in American history through the inevitable fires, depression, development and waves of new ideas that are ever a danger to the old. History it seems is always at risk, even in Boston. These days the church’s changing mission, its progress and continuing relevance, even its survival as a living institution are being weighed against the emotional and financial value of two books they own that are so important that the sale of one is expected to reconstitute the institution’s financial structure for the foreseeable future. The books they own are two copies of the Bay Psalm printed in 1640, the first book to be printed in the British American colonies. They have two copies and the thinking is they can part with one.
For the Church the issues are complex: how to maintain and strengthen its robust ministries and honor its storied history. If the focus is on its history those that oppose a sale will judge it a sacrilege. If, on the other hand, the goal is the greatest good for the largest audience the book will be cashed and the proceeds invested. Church leaders and members grappled openly with these matters over many years. They concluded that as the church is not in the library business they should transform a treasure from the past into ministries for the future. Recently the congregation voted to sell a copy, a vote that required two thirds in favor and achieved almost Russian results, 88%. A copy will be sold.
Because this book has been a fragile cultural icon for more than a hundred years neither copy has been kept in the church since 1866 so it's possible many of the church’s 300 members have never seen one in person. Both copies are kept at the Boston Public Library and access strictly governed. For the interested a link to the Church's electronic full text version is provided on page 4.
DOYLE, July 23: STOKES, I. N. PHELPS. The Iconography of Manhattan Island, 1498-1909. New York: Robert H. Dodd, 1915-28. Estimate: $3,000-5,000
DOYLE, July 23: [AUTOGRAPH - US PRESIDENT]FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT. A signed photograph of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Estimate $500-800
DOYLE, July 23: [ARION PRESS]. ABBOTT, EDWIN A. Flatland. A Romance of Many Dimensions. San Francisco, 1980. Estimate $2,000-3,000.
DOYLE, July 23: TOLSTOY, LYOF N. and NATHAN HASKELL DOLE, translator. Anna Karénina ... in eight parts. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell & Co., [1886]. Estimate: $400-600
DOYLE, July 23: ROWLING, J.K. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. London: Bloomsbury, 2000. Estimate $1,200-1,800
Freeman’s | Hindman Western Manuscripts and Miniatures July 8, 2025
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FRANCESCO PETRARCH (b. Arezzo, 20 July 1304; d. Arqua Petrarca, 19 July 1374). $20,000-30,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF THE VITAE IMPERATORUM (active Milan, 1431-1459). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF ATTAVANTE DEGLI ATTAVANTI (GABRIELLO DI VANTE) (active Florence, c. 1452-c. 1520/25). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. FOLLOWER OF HERMAN SCHEERE (active London, c. 1405-1425). $15,000-20,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. An exceptionally rare, illuminated music leaf from a Mozarabic Antiphonal with sister leaves mostly in museum collections. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Exceptional leaf from a prestigious Antiphonary by a leading illuminator of the late Duecento. $11,500-14,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. CIRCLE OF THE MASTER OF MS REID 33 and SELWERD ABBEY SCRIPTORIUM (AGNES MARTINI?) (active The Netherlands, Groningen, c. 1468-1510). $10,000-15,000.
Freeman’s | Hindman, July 8. Previously unknown illumination from one of the most renowned Gothic Choir Book sets of the Middle Ages. $6,000-8,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Book of Hours by the Masters of Otto van Moerdrecht, Use of Sarum, in Latin, Southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450. £20,000 to £30,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Albert Einstein. Autograph letter signed, to Attilio Palatino, on his research into General Relativity, 12 May 1929. £12,000 to £18,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: John Gould. The Birds of Europe, [1832-] 1837, 5 volumes, contemporary half morocco, subscriber’s copy. £40,000 to £60,000.
Sotheby’s Books, Manuscripts and Music from Medieval to Modern Now through July 10, 2025
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: Ian Fleming. A collection of James Bond first editions, 8 volumes in all. £8,000 to £12,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, 1997, first edition, hardback issue. £50,000 to £70,000.
Sotheby’s, Ending July 10: J.R.R. Tolkien. Autograph letter signed, to Amy Ronald, on Pauline Baynes's map of Middle Earth, 1970. £7,000 to £10,000.