text by Nadia Van Niekerk; photos by Daniel Chang

During the 15th and 16th centuries, two events, which were characterized by transformation, discovery, religious and political changes, stood out: the invention of the printing press and the Spaniards’ arrival in the Americas. These events opened new chapters in the history of Central America.

Printing was initially introduced in Mexico with the first printing house established in 1539. The Jesuit, Franciscan and Hieronymite missionaries initiated printing in Peru in 1584. The British Colonies in America followed with the Cambridge press in 1638. In 1660 Bishop Fray Payo Enríquez de Rivera brought the first printing press of its kind from Mexico to Guatemala. This marked the beginning of an independent printing era in Central America, heralding cultural perseverance and art voyaging.

Top: The first printing press was brought to Guatemala in 1660 by Bishop Fray Payo Enríquez de Rivera.
Middle: The building itself is an architectural antiquity and considered a National Monument.
Bottom: The building itself is an architectural antiquity and considered a National Monument.

On March 16, 1956, within the celebration of the second Arts and Culture Festival, the Museo del Libro Antiguo was inaugurated. Home to the first printing press in operation in 1660, the original press was eventually moved to Guatemala City, but a replica is on display at the museum. The building is also considered a National Monument. It is in itself an architectural antiquity with colonial characteristics, including a typical Spanish terrace, spacious rooms, corridors, patios, gardens and fountains. The museum offers the visitor three exhibition halls in which the principal documents are displayed with dates and other essential information related to the early printing in Guatemala.

The Museum Collection

The museum houses approximately 2,500 works of typographical art relating to the history of intellectual life of Guatemala from 1660 through the 1800s. The collection, much of which has been donated by families supporting the conservation of historic art and culture, includes books, volumes and brochures. Although only a few are exhibited, the museum’s archive also houses a significant number of loose folios for study and research by specialized conservers.

The earliest printing in Guatemala was predominantly of religious character. An original fragment of the Catholicon (an encyclopedic dictionary and the first secular book to be printed in the Western world), printed by Johann Gutenberg in 1460, is on display. (Gutenberg invented display the printing press with replaceable / movable wooden or metal letters in 1436, which remained the standard until the 20th century.) It is also important to mention the famous manuscripts, representing the only written form of communication for centuries and carefully preserved by the museum. The majority of them were written in Latin, mainly with religious themes. Among these is the reproduction of the Bible created in 1456 by Gutenberg, considered the first to be printed with movable type.

Ideas in this era of independent printing moved from religious character to indigenous grammar and vocabulary. Literature no longer belonged exclusively to church and court. The widespread access to and appreciation for classical art and literature meant a cultural rebirth at the end of the Middle Ages throughout Western civilization. These were now translated into a renewed passion for artistic expression. As such, the museum has a fascinating anthology of lithography, including music sheets, maps, public announcements, etiquettes and diplomas.

The Museo del Libro Antiguo is a dynamic national treasure filled with cultural flow, moving history, enriching art, scientific exploration and life. “The information and history here is indispensable. This is where you can meet the start of society,” says Martha Julio, museum director.

With the technological developments surrounding modern society, there is little room for appreciating where it all started: history. “There is so much emphasis placed on education and health, the weight on culture and art is sadly decreasing. Our aim is to make people aware of the fundamental value of this material,” Julio adds.

Future developments for the museum include an auditorium for cultural activities and a souvenir shop. Thinking of how these early entrepreneurs led to our advancement and success today arouses inspiration and awe, so much so that British writer Aldous Huxley proclaimed, “The charm of history and its mysterious lesson is the fact that, from age to age, nothing changes and yet everything is completely different.”