First Hispanic American Author
Narración de la marabillosa aparición que hizo el archangel San Miguel a Diego Lazaro de San Francisco, indio feligres del Pueblo de S. Bernardo de la jurisdicción de Santa María Nativitas
Publication: Sevilla, Spain: Imprenta de las Siete Revueltas, a costa de D. Juan Leonardo Malo Manrique, [1740].
Notes: A book by the first Hispanic American author and one of the first published writers born in what is now the United States. The book describes the visitation of the Archangel Michael (San Miguel) to Diego Lazaro, a Mayan Indian, in 1631 and the establishment of a sanctuary at San Miguel del Milagros, the healing waters there, and other miracles observed in the area.
This is the second edition of Florencia's book. The first edition, also published in Seville, in 1692, came from the press of Thomas López de Haro; this edition, which does not indicate a publication year, is dated to 1740 by the Library of Congress.
The verso of the title page has a full-page print of San Miguel printed inside a decorative type border. The image is signed "Lop[e]z" in the plate, possibly indicating the publisher of the first edition or a member of his family, which made books for several generations. The plate is usually described as an engraving, and there are certain fine details more typical of an engraving. However, the image is on the verso of a text page, which would be more common with relief printing, like a woodcut, which can be printed on the same press as type. The letters "Q. S. D." below the image (Quis sicut Deus?, Who is like God?, the Latin translation of the Hebrew word for Michael) appear to be in type and the decorative border appears to be made from four slugs, with gaps between them at the corners. This, and the lack of a platemark, typically found around intaglio prints, suggests a relief printing process.
Florencia (St. Augustine?, Florida, 1620 – Mexico, 1695) has rarely been considered as an early Hispanic writer. Few (no?) histories of early American writers have considered him although, since his first book appeared in 1661 (Sabin 24811), he is one of the first people born in the present-day United States to publish a book.
[8], 194, [4] pages. Small octavo (5-7/8 by 7-1/2 inches).
Edition + Condition: Second edition. Bound in 19th century quarter sheep over marbled boards. Very good, with some fading to the spine; corners somewhat worn. Second gathering of sheets foxed.
Item No: #365403
Price: $1,500