Figure 237
Opening of Solis’s Conquista de Mexico: Sancha, Madrid, 1783
From a copy in the Boston Public Library (facsimile), Historia de la Conquista de Mexico (scan)
1783
To see the progress that printing made in this Spanish revival, compare Villa-Diego’s edition of Solis’ Historia de la Conquista de Mexico, issued at Madrid in 1684 (fig. 232), with Sancha’s beautiful quarto edition of the same book, printed under distinguished patronage, also at Madrid, in 1783. This is still considered a great edition of Solis’ work. The types used are frankly old style, and of these the larger sizes are the best. Introductory matter fills fifty pages, and this prefatory material is divided into eleven sections. To arrange it successfully, as Sancha has done, would tax the ingenuity of any printer. On arriving at last at the History, how fine it is!