Detail map of Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain,Centro, Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico

A: Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain, B: Centro, Ciudad de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico

Juan Pablos Issues the First Book Printed in the Western Hemisphere

6/12/1539

 The 'Casa de la Primera Imprenta de América,' where printer Juan Pablos printed what is likely the first book in the Western Hemisphere, still stands today in Mexico City.  (View Larger)

In 1539, in exchange for a monopoly on printing and the book trade in the Viceroyalty of New Spain, Seville Printer Juan Cromberger founded the first printing press in America. To undertake this project Giovanni Paoli, a native of Lombardy, and better-known as Juan Pablos, a printer from the "casa de Juan Cromberger," set up in Mexico City the first documented printing press in the Western Hemisphere. The first book Juan Pablos published was Breve y más compendiosa doctrina Christiana en lengua Mexicana y Castellana, by Juan de Zumárraga, printing of which was completed on June 12, 1539.

Contemporary authorities refer to a book possibly published in Mexico entitled Escala Espiritual par Illegar al cielo, which conceivably could have been printed in 1537, but no copy survived.

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