Pablos, Juan
An Italian printer (Giovanni Paoli), appointed by
Juan Comberger, the leading printer of Seville, to
serve as compositor and manager of a printing
establishment in Mexico. Pablos thus became the
first known printer in the Western Hemisphere. The
first book issued by the press, of which there is
any definite record, was dated 1539, the same year
the press was established. Records do not indicate
that r any bookbinder was associated with the
press; therefore it is possible that Pablos
himself did the binding.
Some authorities contend that printing in the
Western Hemisphere began even before 1539. Early
Mexican records mention a printer by the name of
Estaban Martin, but there is no record of anything
he may have printed. An early letter from the
Archbishop to the King of Spain, however, would
seem to indicate that attempts were made to
establish a press before Pablos arrived in Mexico.
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