A conference on the role of Spanish books in London in the early modern period. Fri 13 May 2016, Conference Centre, The British Library,96 Euston Road, London, NW1 2DB
Since the 16th century Anglo-Spanish relations have been intense. From marriage alliances, via commercial and cultural exchanges, such as those which took Luis Vives to Oxford to the action of war, which kept Spain off the 18th-century ‘Grand tour’.
Knowledge of Spain in England varied over the centuries, but in general there was great interest in the Spanish Golden Age, and in the earliest incunables printed by Spanish presses. The British Library now possesses one of the best collections of these in the world. In 1738, the press of the Tonson brothers in London printed the first biography of Cervantes, by the Valencian scholar Gregorio Mayans and following this, a series of important Cervantine publications in Britain in the 18th century and beyond.
In 1824, the famous Valencian publisher and bookseller Vicente Salvá set up his establishment in London’s Regent Street, becoming one of the principal bookdealers of his time. His bookshop exported all over Europe and America, and his editions were much sought-after internationally and hosted one of the salons most frequented by the Spanish liberals. The catalogues of Spanish and Portuguese books, which he published in London in 1825 and 1826, quickly became famous among bibliophiles around the world. His unpublished letters, over three thousand in number, are essential for understanding the history of Spanish and English publishing.
In light of current research into the presence of Spanish books in London, and in order to strengthen Anglo-Spanish relations, this conference will look at booksellers’ catalogues, private collections, auctions, editions, letters, private reading, and analyse the British ‘image’ of the Spanish.
The programme for the day can be found here
Sponsored by the Embassy of Spain in the United Kingdom, The Government of Spain, Ministry of Economy and Competition, The Bibliographical Society, The Instituto Cervantes, The Cañada Blanch Foundation, the British-Spanish Society and The University of Valencia, Department of the History of Science and Documentation
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