Land and air tribute to the sailor Jorge Juan in Novelda
The birthplace and enduring memory of Jorge Juan and Santacilia meet a moment of renewal as Novelda presents a noteworthy exhibition. This is more than a display; it is a timely reminder of a figure who shaped 18th century science and navigation. The collection gathers original documents and crafted works by the celebrated scholar, sailor, and Enlightenment thinker, honoring his contributions with care and clarity.
The project spotlights an extensive bibliography of Jorge Juan, spanning the 18th and 19th centuries. It becomes a historical and cultural landmark, funded by the generosity of the Trade Museum, which the project also honors and manages. The effort brings together key figures in preservation and scholarship, with David Beltrá Torregrosa and Veronica Quiles Lopez guiding the initiative as project managers.
This extraordinary legacy is not fully housed in any single public or private institution. The project thus unites heritage and history, inviting present and future audiences to engage with one of the most influential figures of the Spanish Enlightenment.
A bibliographic treasure
The catalog published for the exhibition consolidates around 40 original works curated from the estate known as El Fondonet, a notable cultural patronage site. The collection highlights a historical thesis that influenced the delimitation of borders between Spain and Portugal, published in 1749 and later withdrawn as it no longer aligned with national interests. One of the 300 copies shown at El Fondonet, many were destroyed after confiscation, underscoring the fragile fate of printed material in the era and the remarkable resilience of these texts.
This unique bibliography includes all of Jorge Juan’s books, from the first 18th-century editions to his 19th-century Spanish reissues, along with translations into English, French, and Dutch. The volume also encompasses related works on scientific expeditions, mathematics, and nautical knowledge, outlining a broad spectrum of the sailor’s influence on navigation and exploration.
In a bookstore in Madrid
David Beltrá, the mind behind the exhibition, spoke about his collecting journey at the Madrid old book fair in October 1995. The conversation reveals a turning point: a desire to publish Jorge Juan’s work in a dedicated collection of Spanish themes, originally priced at two pesetas and later valued at a thousand pesetas in the 1990s. That moment captured the passion and market dynamics surrounding rare books and the enduring interest in Jorge Juan’s writings.
Back then, acquiring antique volumes often meant careful visits to bookshops and fairs, sometimes coordinated by phone. The path to assembling this bibliographic legacy was shaped by persistence, curiosity, and a belief in the power of primary sources to illuminate a pivotal historical period.
Part of the collection has been shared with El Fondonet, where a temporary exhibition makes it accessible to visitors. The display includes works by those who knew Juan and documented his life and science, keeping his memory alive for new generations.
As the collector recalled, a moment of surprise came when two 18th-century copies authored by Jorge Juan were offered. The items carried the weight of maritime history and a biography written by Juan’s secretary, Miguel Sanz, published a year after his death. The exchange underscored the enduring value of primary sources and the way they illuminate maritime science and astronomical study from that era.
The Madrid bookshop episode marks a turning point in assembling these sources for a broader audience. Beltrá’s commitment to bringing this material to Novelda demonstrates how regional heritage can shed light on global networks of knowledge and exchange that defined the Enlightenment era.
The journey continued as more volumes arrived from fairs, antique shops, and even online auctions. Each addition strengthens a bibliographic collection that traces the voyage of ideas across continents and centuries, underscoring the universal appeal of Jorge Juan’s intellectual achievements.
Every book in the collection notes its provenance, revealing the path it traveled before arriving at El Fondonet. The presentation makes clear how the young Jorge Juan’s light first emerged in Novelda and now shines anew, inviting readers to explore the life and work of one of the era’s brightest minds.