Many plays printed by the Hermosilla family contain exuberantly ornamented titles and, intriguingly, initials that frequently appear on the first page. Gema Balaguer Alba, a recent graduate of the Universidad de Sevilla, conducted extensive research in the archives of Seville to address the mystery of the origin of the unreferenced initials.

This essay provides an overview of various ways in which sueltas can provide insights into the transmission and reception of plays, with examples from among the works of Luis Vélez de Guevara. Taken individually, they can provide crucial evidence for scholars preparing critical editions; taken collectively, they can illuminate the history of a work's dissemination and circulation, from the bookshops of Madrid to the Peruvian highlands.