Juan Cromberger

Spanish printer

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June 25, 2026

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Juan Cromberger was a significant figure in early Spanish printing. He was part of a German printing tradition that established itself in Spain. His father, Jacob Cromberger, set up a press in Seville in 1502, and Juan continued this work. In 1539, Juan Cromberger secured the rights to print in Mexico, sending one of his employees, Juan Pablos, to establish the first printing press in the New World. Pablos published the first book in the Americas that year: Doctrina christiana en la lengua mexicana e castellana. Early Spanish printing often featured a distinctive style, with texts printed in roman type and commentaries in black-letter type.12

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history of publishing
Other continental printers
In 1539 Juan Cromberger of Sevilla, whose father, Jacob, had set up a press there in 1502, secured the privilege for printing in Mexico and sent over one of his men, Juan Pablos. In that year, Pablos published the first printed book in the New World, Doctrina…
Read More
In 1539 Juan Cromberger of Sevilla, whose father, Jacob, had set up a press there in 1502, secured the privilege for printing in Mexico and sent over one of his men, Juan Pablos. In that year, Pablos published the first printed book in the New World, Doctrina…
Read More