Gazing upon this plaque, do you ponder the stories it silently holds? This is the Imprenta Juan de la Cuesta Plaque. It marks a site of immense literary history. It commemorates Juan de la Cuesta’s printing house. Here, in 1615, the second part of “Don Quixote” was first printed.
The Imprenta Juan de la Cuesta plaque is on San Eugenio Street number 7. The printing house once stood here. It played a pivotal role in Spanish literary history.
Let’s step back to the late 16th century. Pedro de Madrigal opened a printing house in Madrid in 1586. After his death, his widow continued the business. Juan de la Cuesta managed it. In 1605, Juan de la Cuesta printed the first edition of “Don Quixote”. It was a landmark achievement. The printing house was originally on Atocha Street. It was at the corner of Costanilla de los Desamparados. This building was previously the Hospitalillo del Carmen. In 1609, the printing house moved to San Eugenio Street. Here, Juan de la Cuesta printed the second part of “Don Quixote” in 1615.
The printing quality of the first edition has faced criticism. Some find errors and inconsistencies. Others defend Juan de la Cuesta. They cite the printing standards of the time. They mention the financial pressures of publishing “Don Quixote”. Cervantes and Juan de la Cuesta may have had financial disagreements. Despite this, Juan de la Cuesta continued to print Cervantes’ works.
In 1904, José Ramón Mélida proposed placing plaques. These plaques would mark the sites of the original printing house. The Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando supported this idea. The Council of Ministers approved the proposal. In 1905, two plaques were installed. One was on Atocha Street. The other is here on San Eugenio Street. It marks the location of Juan de la Cuesta’s second printing house.
This Imprenta Juan de la Cuesta Plaque has a rectangular shape. Its design features mixed lines. The plaque has an incised inscription. It declares that the printing house stood on this site. Here, the 1615 edition of “Don Quixote” was printed. The plaque is made of marble. It measures 2.00 x 1.10 meters. The plaque is property of the city.
Other notable works were printed here. These include Cervantes’ “Novelas Ejemplares”. Lope de Vega’s plays also came from this press. Juan de la Cuesta printed “Romancero General”. He also printed “La Araucana” by Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga.
Now, consider the legacy of Juan de la Cuesta. He provided a crucial service to Spanish literature. He helped to immortalize “Don Quixote”. This humble plaque reminds us of the power of the written word. It honors those who bring literature to life. The Imprenta Juan de la Cuesta Plaque stands as a tribute to literary history. It is a reminder of Madrid’s cultural heritage.