Room II · Colonial Mexico

Juan Pablos Press

Juan Pablos

"Juan Pablos Press", made of wood around 1539 by the printer Juan Pablos. Printing by means of a screw press. Painted green, with parts in natural wood. With a Latin legend carved on the front of a drawer. The Juan Pablos Press was the first press to reach the American continent. With the backing of his sponsors, Juan Pablos set up the workshop "Casa de Juan Cromberger" in the Casa de las Campanas, owned by Bishop Zumárraga, on the southwest corner of Moneda and Cerrada de Santa Teresa la Antigua (today Licenciado Verdad), beside the former Archbishop's Palace. The workshop opened around April 1540, run by Gerónima Gutiérrez. Later, Viceroy Mendoza granted Juan Cromberger the exclusive privilege of having a press in Mexico and bringing in books of all faculties and sciences; printing was to be paid at the rate of one cuartillo of silver per sheet.

Classification

Presses

Date

1519–1821 · 16th century

Material

Wood, metal

Dimensions

63.0 × 240.0 × 80.0 cm

Inventory no.

MUNAG.128.02701

Credits

Curator: Gabriela Zesati · Fotografía: Israel Salinas