Stephen Day Press Postage Stamps

The artifact of the month for July is a collection of postage stamps featuring what is known as the Stephen Daye press. These three-cent violet stamps were issued on September 25, 1939, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of printing in Colonial America. The stamp (U.S. #857) was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing using a Rotary Press and first distributed in New York, New York. 

The History of the Stephen Daye Press 

Reverend Jose Glover, born in England, planned to open and operate a printing press in the Puritan colony established in Boston, Massachusetts. Along with his wife, Elizabeth Glover, he brought with him on his 1638 voyage Stephen Daye, a “locksmith” in England, and his two sons. Stephen signed an indenture contract with Glover where he would manage the press for two years in exchange for the voyage and 100 pounds. Glover died at sea leaving the press and the indenture contract to Elizabeth.  

Elizabeth Glover set the press up in one of the rooms in the house she bought for the Dayes. Stephen Daye was at the head of the operation leading him to become the first printer in Colonial America. The press was first used to print The Freeman’s Oath but most notably printed 1700 copies of The Whole Booke of Psalmes, Imprinted 1640, also known as The Bay Psalm Book, of which eleven copies are known to exist today.  

Elizabeth remarried to Henry Dunster, the first Harvard President, and the press, now in his name was set up in their home. When Elizabeth died in 1643, Dunster put Matthew Daye, Stephen Daye’s son, in charge. During Matthew’s management, Dunster moved the press to Harvard, though official ownership was not until 1658 when Dunster gifted the press to the university. This was the start of the Harvard University Press which continued printing on a different press after the Stephen Daye press moved location. 

After Matthew’s death, the press was moved out of the Daye family into the Green family. It was used by Bartholomew Green to print the first colonial newspaper, The News-Letter, which had been established a few years prior. After a few generations in the Green family, the press was passed to their apprentices, the Spooners. Over the years the press traded hands many times throughout Vermont, before being presented to the Vermont Historical Society in Montpelier, Vermont.