Figure 232
Opening of Solis’ Conquista de Mexico (first edition): Villa-Diego, Madrid
From a copy in the Boston Public Library (facsimile), Google Books (scan)
1684
The first edition…is a good example of a late seventeenth century folio. The title-page, set almost wholly in various sizes of roman capitals, is surrounded with a badly printed type-border. Then follow approbations, civil and religious, among which appear dedications to the King and the Count of Oropesa, by whose hands (the title-page tells us) this volume was laid at the Royal Feet. The work itself is set in double column in a rather fine roman letter, interspersed with masses of vivacious condensed italic, not without charm. The book, which is a late example of many similar volumes, is interesting to compare, both as to type and arrangement, with Sancha’s edition of Solis, printed at the height of “revival of printing” in the reign of Carlos III.