Typophile

European or New World?

A. Scott Britton

If the first "press" established in the Americas was in use in Mexico City in 1539, what are the chances that a monumental text by a Jesuit sometime near 1599--in what was then a remote region of Mexico--utilized a typeface designed in the Americas rather than Europe? I guess my question is, which is more likely under these circumstances, a Mexican or European typeface?

My money's on European.

I would suppose the Spanish brought their typefaces with their printing equipment. Do you know the answer, or are you just teasing us?

Some Google searching came up with an authority one might ask if you want to really know. See this link for a UCR project collecting printed material of the Americas.

Here is an article about the first Printer in the Americas, Juan Pablos from a printing firm in Seville. Another article I found said he brought printing equipment with him, and I presume this would include type.

I only wish I knew the answer!

I'll post a photo or two sometime next week (as soon as the reproduction arrives). Thanks, Mike, for the links.

Captured from web.archive.org on 19 Dec 2007. view this capture