Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez, Guatemala — Central America (Central Highlands)

First Printing Press in Central America

Primera Imprenta en Centro América

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 6, 2010

1. First Printing Press in Central America Marker

This marker and others like it were put up in Antigua and elsewhere to mark the 400th anniversary of the first Spanish city in Guatemala in 1524.

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Esta es la casa donde se establecio la primera imprenta que hubo en Centro America año de 1660. El Reyno de Coathemala fue la tercer colonia Hispano Americana que tuvo imprenta.

English translation:
This is the house where the first printing press was established in Central America in 1660. The Kingdom of Coathemala was the third Spanish colony in the Americas to have a printing press.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Communications. A significant historical year for this entry is 1660.

Location. 14° 33.447′ N, 90° 44.021′ W. Marker is in Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez. Marker is on 4ta Calle Poniente, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on 4ta Calle Poniente, between 5ta and 4ta Avenidas, on the north side of the Central Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez 03001, Guatemala. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Antigua Guatemala UNESCO World Heritage Site (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fountain of Antigua's Central Park (within shouting distance of this marker);

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California Avocado Society Thanks Guatemala (within shouting distance of this marker); Francisco Marroquín (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Lions Club of Antigua Guatemala (about 90 meters away); The Founding of Santiago de Guatemala (about 90 meters away); Cathedral of Antigua Guatemala (about 90 meters away); Sculptor Quirio Cataño (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Antigua Guatemala.

Regarding First Printing Press in Central America. Payo Enríquez de Rivera, as the new Archbishop of Guatemala in Santiago de los Caballeros (what is now Antigua, Guatemala) arrived in January 1659. As a man interested in improvements and development, and probably also as a way to publish his own works, he sponsored bringing the first printing press to Guatemala in 1660. An experienced Spanish printer, José Pineda Ibarra, accompanied the press from Puebla, Mexico. Pineda Ibarra operated his press and bookstore for almost twenty years from 1660 to 1679. His son Antonio Pineda continued to operate the press and business from 1681 until 1721.

The

Central Park of Antigua with Municipality (two-story building at center right). image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Eadweard Muybridge, circa 1875

2. Central Park of Antigua with Municipality (two-story building at center right).

This photograph from 1875 shows the area around the Municipality close to how it must have appeared in 1660 during the installation of the printing press.

marker was likely mounted here in 1924 as part of the 400th anniversary celebrations of the first founding of Santiago de los Caballeros in Guatemala, near present-day Tecpán in 1524 (IV Centenario de la Antigua Guatemala).

Additional keywords. Guatemala

Wide view of area with markers related to the first printing press in Central America. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, February 2, 2013

3. Wide view of area with markers related to the first printing press in Central America.

Additional marker celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the printing press in Guatemala. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 6, 2010

4. Additional marker celebrating the 300th Anniversary of the printing press in Guatemala.

Jose de Pineda Ybarra, 1660-1679, Antonio de Pineda Ybarra, 1680-1721. Homenaje del muy noble y leal Ayuntamiento de Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala en el III Centenario de la imprenta, 1960. (Translation: Jose de Pineda Ybarra, 1660-1679, Antonio de Pineda Ybarra, 1680-1721. Homage from the very noble and loyal Municipality of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala in the 300th Anniversary of the printing press, 1960.)

Additional marker on the 300th Anniversary of the death of Jose de Pineda Ibarra. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 6, 2010

5. Additional marker on the 300th Anniversary of the death of Jose de Pineda Ibarra.

Ministerio de Educacion. A la memoria de Jose de Pineda Ibarra, primer impresor del Reino de Guatemala. En el tricentenario de su muerte, 1680-2 de octubre-1980, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, Centro America. (Translation: Ministry of Education. To the memory of Jose de Pineda Ibarra, first printer in Guatemala on the 300th anniversary of his death, 1680-October 2-1980, Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala, Central America.)

Additional marker of the Municipality of Antigua. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 6, 2010

6. Additional marker of the Municipality of Antigua.

Palacio del Muy Noble Ayuntamiento de Santgo de Goathemala. Se erigio en el año de gracia de 1743. Manteniendose airoso al traves de los siglos desafiando las iras de las conmociones terrestres. (Translation: Palace of the Very Noble Municipality of Santiago de Goathemala, built in the year of grace, 1743, grandly mantaining itself through the centuries in spite of the ire of earthly commotion.) This marker shows the traditional location of the first printing press within the Municipality of Antigua.

Municipality of Antigua, 1875 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Eadweard Muybridge, circa 1875

7. Municipality of Antigua, 1875

The first printing press operated from this building, the Municipality of Antigua.

Municipality of Antigua, 2013 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, February 2, 2013

8. Municipality of Antigua, 2013

An additional nearby printing-related marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, November 27, 2015

9. An additional nearby printing-related marker

At 27-29 6a Avenida Norte this marker reads: Antonio de Velasco · 1715-1726 · Homenaje del Instituto de Antropologia e Historia en el III centenario de la imprenta: 1960.

English translation:
Antonio de Velasco · 1715-1726 · Tribute from the Anthropology and History Institute on the 300th Anniversary of the printing press: 1960.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 1,023 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 3. submitted on December 1, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 25, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 8. submitted on December 1, 2013, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 9. submitted on March 31, 2016, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.