Los abecedarios del taller salmantino de Juan de Cánova (1552-1568)

Resumo

The objective of this work has been to identify and describe the xylographic initials existing in the Salamanca workshop of Juan de Cánova, which began to work since 1552 and ceased in 1568. The Historical Library "Marqués de Valdecilla" has a good number of copies come out of the presses of this printer and the research of its funds has been of great importance, together with those of the National Library in Madrid. The printing office of Juan de Cánova had all the necessary equipment for printing. All of them are well described in the printer’s testament, even those with which the books kept in the "cajón de las ystorias" were decorated. The abecedarios or xylographic initials formed diverse collections according to the size and the ornamentation reflected in them. Its great diversity has led us to observe that these abbreviations had a long way. Sometimes they previously belonged to other printers and, even later, after the closing of the Cánova’s printing office, they extended their life in other typographical offices.