The Library Services houses a large collection of printed works from the 16th, 17th, 18th and part of the 19th centuries up to 1835.
16th century
A collection of some 1,500 volumes reflecting all the knowledge of the time, with a broad representation of Philosophy, theology, Canon Law and civil, literature, history and, to a lesser extent, the arts and sciences.
It contains about a hundred post-incunabula (printed between 1501 and 1520) and important works by thinkers of the time, such as the authors of the Salamanca School.
Notable works of this century are:
- Plenary indulgence [et] remission of all sins for the one who gives the summa ynfra written against the Turkish enemy of our holy catholic faith. Valladolid, 1501
- Copilacion de los establecimientos de la orden de la caualleria de santiago del espada. Seville, 1503
- Las siete partidas gloxadas per el señor doctor Alfo[n]so de Mo[n]taluo. Venice, 1501
- Speculum orbis terrarum Cornelis de Jode. Antwerp, 1593
17th century
Among the 3,500 volumes in this 17th century collection are some first editions of literary works, as well as scientific works on medicine and physics, and even emblems.
It also contains some editions of which very few copies have survived, increasing the value of the collection.
Some outstanding works are:
- Arcae limensis: Gazophilativm Regivm Perubicvm. Madrid, 1647
- Anatome plantarum and De ovo incubato. London, 1675-79
- Aratou Soleōs Phainomēna kai Diosēmeia. Oxford, 1672
- Politica indiana ... escribio en la Latina don Iuan de Solorzano. Madrid, 1648
18th century
Half of the collection at Archive is made up of works printed in the 18th century, totalling more than 15,000 copies of very different contents and print quality.
With a wide variety of subjects, works on Philosophy, theology, law, literature and history are widely represented. To a lesser extent, there are works on the arts, science, architecture and medicine. There are also works on everyday life, such as almanacs, travel guides and cookery books.
Notable works from this period are:
- History of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus. Manila, 1749
- Livre nouveau ou Regles des cinq ordres d'architecture. Paris, 1757
- The Conjuration of Catiline and The Jugurta War by Sallust. Madrid, 1772
- Relacion historica del viage a la America meridional de Jorge Juan y Antonio de Ulloa. Madrid, 1748
1801-1835
The Library Services houses some 10,000 copies printed between 1801 and 1835, of different types, such as speeches, memoirs, harangues, sainetes, instructions, regulations, constitutions, sermons, pastoral letters, panegyrics, novenas, breviaries, odes and praises.
This period includes interesting volumes on politics and government, political satire and pamphlets, as well as Philosophy and religion. These works illustrate the development of law, history, politics, thought and society in the 19th century.
Notable works from these years are:
- The collection of decrees and orders issued by the Cortes Generales, those of conference proceedings of the Academies of Fine Arts, and of the Economic Society of Friends of the Country.
- El Español directed by J. M. Blanco White. London, 1810-1814
- Dictionary of medicine and surgery or Library Services guide medical-surgical by Antonio Ballano. Madrid, 1805-1807
- Mechanism of the art of printing for the ease of those who work in it. Madrid, 1811