Watts, Isaac; Bayley, Daniel. The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of the New Testament...Hymns and Spiritual Songs...The Psalm-Singer's Assistant. Boston: J. Mein | W. M'Alpine, 1766 & 1767. [9972]
Full calf over card, 15.3 x 9 cm (6 x 3 1/2 inches), binding separated at rear hinge, cracks in the binding near the top of the joints, lacks all free end papers and first title page, and several other leaves as noted below. There are three items here bound together.
The first is Watts's Psalms of David lacking the tp., and it could be one of several imprints circa 1766. Pagination is [iii]-iv, [1]-304, [xxiv], lacking the last leaf of the Table. This could be Evans 9346 or Evans 10559.
The second is Hymns and Spiritual Songs...&c. By Isaac Watts, D. D., The Twenty-first Edition. Boston: Printed and Sold by J. Mein...1766. [i]-xxiv, [1]-76, 81-276 pp. P. 276 misnumbered as 176; lacking the two leaves as noted; many leaves trimmed close at top. AI 41671 with note, "The only known copy is defective." Leaf 69-70 with horizontal tear, leaf is complete.
Item three is The Psalm-Singer's Assistant; containing, I. An Introduction, with such Directions for Singing, as are necessary for Learners. II. A Collection of Choice Psalm-Tunes, suited to the several Measures both of the old and new Version; engraved in a correct Manner, and is designed for the Improvement of Psalmody, in the Congregations, both in Town and Country: All being composed in three Parts, collected from the best Masters. By Daniel Bayley. Boston: Printed by W. M'Alpine, for the Author in Newbury-Port. And sold by the Booksellers in Town and Country. 1767. 8 pp. text; 6 (of 16) leaves of engraved music, engraved on one side only: the numbered leaves present are in this order - 4, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8. AI 41691. Fair. Full calf.
The Psalm-Singer's Assistant. No. 77B in Britton, Lowens, and Crawford, American Sacred Music Imprints 1698-1810. "This item is a tune supplement to be bound at the back of a metrical psalter or hymn-book. Variations in copies demonstrate that at least six issues were published, all with music printed from the same plates, and only one with a title-page date." This copy defective with only 6 engraved leaves present. Includes the Advert for 'Tans'ur's Royal Melody' on text p. 8.
Several signature within - "Betsy Coffin's Book, Dover, July 1799," "Eliphalet Coffin," "Susannah Coffin."
With a signed provenance card from the music collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.
