María de Quiñones facts for kids

María de Quiñones (died 1669) was a very important Spanish book printer. She lived a long time ago, in the 1600s, and helped publish many famous books.

Who Was María de Quiñones?

María de Quiñones was a skilled printer in Spain. Printers were people who used special machines to make books and other printed materials. This was a very important job before computers and modern printing presses.

Taking Charge of the Printing Business

In 1602, María married another printer named Juan de la Cuesta. Five years later, in 1607, her husband left for India. Before he left, he gave María a special document called a "power of attorney." This document allowed her to fully manage his printing company while he was away.

María de Quiñones took over the business and ran it for many years. She was in charge of the company until 1666. This shows she was a very capable and strong businesswoman.

A Successful Printing Company

Under María's leadership, her printing company became one of the most successful in Spain. It printed a huge number of books. Many of these books were part of a special time in Spanish history called the Spanish Golden Age.

Printing for the Spanish Golden Age

The Spanish Golden Age was a period when Spain produced amazing art, literature, and plays. María de Quiñones's company printed works by some of the most famous writers of this time. These included authors like Lope de Vega, Tirso de Molina, and Pedro Calderón de la Barca. Her work helped share these important stories and plays with many people.

Her Lasting Legacy

María de Quiñones left a lasting mark on Spanish history. To remember her contributions, a street in the city of Madrid is named Quiñones. This shows how important her work was.

See also

• List of women printers and publishers before 1800