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Los Lusiadas. Translated by Benito Caldera. Alcala de Henares: Juan Gracian, 1580.
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CAMÕES, Luis de (c.1524-1580)
Los Lusiadas. Translated by Benito Caldera. Alcala de Henares: Juan Gracian, 1580.
First edition in Spanish of the masterpiece of Portuguese language and culture, Los Lusiadas. The Lusiads is fundamental not just to Portugal’s literary and political identity, but also to the political and trade developments of the powerful state of Spain for whom this first edition in Spanish was made and its global ambitions in India and beyond.
This translation – the first into any language – of The Lusiads is tied deeply to developments in European political history, and particularly to diplomatic relations between Portugal and other nations. Benito Caldera made the first translation of The Lusiads into Spanish in 1580, the last year of Camões’ life. Caldera was himself Portuguese, though living at the Spanish court in Madrid at the time of his translation, and it appeared in the very year of Philip II’s annexation of Portugal to Spain. Fouto points to ‘Philip II’s diplomatic strategy to reinforce the Spanish annexation of Portugal in 1580 to a wider international audience by annexing its most prominent literary-imperial product’ (that is, translating The Lusiads into Spanish) (Fouto 2019, 102). This tactic was to lend legitimacy to his claim to the Portuguese crown through his grandfather Manuel I of Portugal. Caldera’s translation was immediately followed by the translation of Luis Gomez de Tapia, each representing competing factions seeking Spanish royal favour. Palau 4105; Pinto de Mattos, Manual Bib. Portuguez, p.108; Salva 509.
Quarto (198 x 144mm), decorative woodcut title-page and initials (deleted inscription with a small hole on the title-page, paper flaw in Z5 just touching a few letters, some browning and occasional spotting throughout). Early flexible vellum lined with printed waste, spine lettered and decorated in ink; modern citron morocco box. Provenance: deleted inscription on title.
Los Lusiadas. Translated by Benito Caldera. Alcala de Henares: Juan Gracian, 1580.
First edition in Spanish of the masterpiece of Portuguese language and culture, Los Lusiadas. The Lusiads is fundamental not just to Portugal’s literary and political identity, but also to the political and trade developments of the powerful state of Spain for whom this first edition in Spanish was made and its global ambitions in India and beyond.
This translation – the first into any language – of The Lusiads is tied deeply to developments in European political history, and particularly to diplomatic relations between Portugal and other nations. Benito Caldera made the first translation of The Lusiads into Spanish in 1580, the last year of Camões’ life. Caldera was himself Portuguese, though living at the Spanish court in Madrid at the time of his translation, and it appeared in the very year of Philip II’s annexation of Portugal to Spain. Fouto points to ‘Philip II’s diplomatic strategy to reinforce the Spanish annexation of Portugal in 1580 to a wider international audience by annexing its most prominent literary-imperial product’ (that is, translating The Lusiads into Spanish) (Fouto 2019, 102). This tactic was to lend legitimacy to his claim to the Portuguese crown through his grandfather Manuel I of Portugal. Caldera’s translation was immediately followed by the translation of Luis Gomez de Tapia, each representing competing factions seeking Spanish royal favour. Palau 4105; Pinto de Mattos, Manual Bib. Portuguez, p.108; Salva 509.
Quarto (198 x 144mm), decorative woodcut title-page and initials (deleted inscription with a small hole on the title-page, paper flaw in Z5 just touching a few letters, some browning and occasional spotting throughout). Early flexible vellum lined with printed waste, spine lettered and decorated in ink; modern citron morocco box. Provenance: deleted inscription on title.
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Eugenio Donadoni
Senior Specialist, Medieval & Renaissance Manuscripts