220 242
483
●
(PUEBLA—1643.) Palafox y Mendoza, Juan de.
Historia real sagrada, luz de
principes, y subditos.
[22], 242 leaves. Folio, contemporary vellum, moderate wear,
repaired split to rear cover, recased and endpapers renewed; early manuscript note and
marginal repairs on half-title, minor foxing and dampstaining, repairs to lower corner of leaf,
lacking final 7 leaves (protesta and index); marca del fuego “SF” on top edge.
Puebla: Francisco Robledo, 1643
[5,000/7,500]
FIRST EDITION
,
AND THE FIRST BOOK PRINTED IN PUEBLA
.
Puebla de los Ángeles boasted
the fourth printing press in the Americas, after México, Lima, and Cambridge.A pamphlet was
printed in Puebla in 1642, and five more in 1643, none of them known to be longer than 44
leaves. Palafox served as bishop of Puebla during this time and may have played a role in bringing
Robledo’s press to Puebla.This was the last book published under Palafox’s authority as viceroy;
later Puebla printing was more or less at odds with the laws of Spain for several years. Medina,
Puebla 4; Palau 209621; Ward, “Mexico, where they coin money and print books: the
Calderón dynasty and the Mexican book trade,” University of Texas dissertation, pages
95-98 (“Palafox set out his vision of the proper relationship between sovereign and subjects”);
Woodbridge, Printing in Colonial Spanish America, page 79. Not seen at auction since 1971.