A relação entre os judeus e os inícios das oficinas tipográficas em Portugal encontra-se

bem documentada. O primeiro livro impresso em Portugal foi um Pentateuco

hebraico, dado ao prelo em Faro, no dia 30 de Junho de 1487, antecedendo a edição

em Chaves do primeiro incunábulo em língua portuguesa (Tratado de Confissom, 1489).

A este pioneirismo soma-se o volume de edições hebraicas portuguesas, pois quase

metade dos incunábulos lusos corresponde a edições hebraicas (treze livros em trinta).

As oficinas tipográficas judaicas portuguesas estiveram ativas nas cidades de Faro,

Leiria e Lisboa: em Faro imprimiram-se três incunábulos, um em 1487 e dois em 1496;

em Leiria imprimiram-se quatro, entre 1494 e 1497; e em Lisboa imprimiram-se seis

incunábulos, entre 1489 e 1492.

Além do hebraico, os judeus portugueses também imprimiram obras em latim e

castelhano, nomeadamente o célebre Almanaque Perpétuo de Abraão Zacuto, impresso

em Leiria em 1496, cujas tabelas de declinação do sol foram muito importantes para a

navegação astronómica em alto-mar, permitindo determinar a latitude.

The relationship between Jews and the beginnings of typographical workshops in

Portugal is well documented. The first book printed in Portugal was a Hebrew

Pentateuch, completed in Faro on June 30, 1487, preceding the edition of the first

incunabulum written in Portuguese (Tratado de Confissom, Chaves, 1489). To this

pioneering event is added the quantity of Portuguese Hebrew editions. Almost half of

the incunabula printed in Portugal are Hebrew editions (13 out of 30 books).

Portuguese Jewish typographic workshops were active in the cities of Faro, Leiria and

Lisbon: in Faro were printed three incunabula, one in 1487 and two in 1496; in Leiria

were printed four between 1494 and 1497; and in Lisbon were printed six incunabula

between 1489 and 1492.

In addition to Hebrew, Portuguese Jews also printed one book in Latin and Castilian,

the famous Perpetual Almanach of Abraham Zacuto, printed in Leiria in 1496, whose

sun declination tables of the sun were very important for astronomical navigation in

the high seas by determining the latitude.

1 IEM-FCSH; 2 CEC-FLUL; 3 ARTIS-FLUL; 4 CESAB- FLUL; 5 CHUL; 6 Hebrew University (Jerus.)

Left: Commentary to the Pentateuch, by Nahmanides (Moses ben Nahman, 1194-1270). Printed by Elieser Toledano, Lisbon, 1489. Lisbon,

Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, INC. 551, p. 328.

Middle: Jacob ben Asher, Tur Orah Hayyim (Way of Life). Printed by Samuel d’Ortas and sons, Leiria, 2 June 1495. Jerusalem, The National &

University Library of Israel, MS Hebr. 53. The animals on the frame might allude to the text: “Be as bold as a leopard, swift as an eagle, fleet as a deer,

and strong as a lion.”

Right: Hebrew Bible from the “Lisbon School”. Beginning of the Book of Joshua. Copied c.1490, most likely in Lisbon. New York, Hispanic

Society of America / Metropolitan Museum of New York, MS B 241, ff. 160r.

Almanach Perpetuum, by Abraham Zacuto. Leiria, 1496. Printed

by Abraham d’Ortas, Leiria, 1496. Lisbon, Biblioteca Nacional

de Portugal, INC. 187, pp. 1, 21.

Printed Bible. Former Prophets, with commentaries by David Qimhi

(1160-1235) and Gersonides (Levi ben Gerson, 1288-1344). Printed by

Samuel d'Ortas and sons, Leiria, 1494. Lisbon, Biblioteca Nacional de

Portugal, INC. 1415, pp. 1, 160.

Printed Bible. Isaiah and Jeremiah, with commentaries by David

Qimhi (1160-1235). Printed by Elieser Toledano, Lisbon, 1492.

Lisbon, Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal, INC. 1413, pp. 1-2.

Hebrew illumination in Portugal

during the 15th century

Jewish Book and Illumination in Late Medieval Portugal Exhibition coordinators: Luís Urbano Afonso and Adelaide Miranda

Adelaide Miranda1

Aires A. Nascimento2

António Ramalho2

Catarina F. Barreira1

Catarina Tibúrcio1

Débora Matos3

Paula Cardoso1

Paulo F. Alberto2

Paulo M. Pinto4

Shalom Sabar6

Susana R. Bastos4

Tiago Moita3

João C. Oliveira4

José A. Ramos5

Luís C. Ribeiro1

Luís U. Afonso3

Maria A. Tavares4

Miguel M. Seixas1

Talmud. Treatise on Divorce with a

commentary by Rashi (Salomon ben Isaac,

1040-1105). Printed by Samuel Porteiro,

Faro, 1496. Lisbon, Biblioteca Nacional de

Portugal, INC. 1412 (single page).

Hebrew printing presses in Sefarad: locations and date of first

printing.

Illuminated page from the first volume of the “Lisbon Bible”.

The red background frame with golden foliage and flowers is

very similar to the engraving used on the incunabulum at the left.

Copied in 1482, in Lisbon, by Samuel ibn Musa. London, British

Library, MS Or. 2626, f. 3r.

David Abudraham, Perush ha-Berakhot ve-ha-

Tefillot (Commentary on the benedictions

and the prayers). Printed by Elieser

Toledano, Lisbon, 25 Novembro 1489. St.

Petersburg, Library of the Russian

Academy of Sciences.

Animals in the frame include lions, bulls,

bears, dogs, deers, birds, unicorns, and

dragons.

4. O Livro Hebraico Impresso 4. The Printed Hebrew Book