Contributions to the History of Typography in Coimbra

João Álvares’ printing contract with the Monastery of Santa Cruz (1565)

Abstract

The present article aims to examine a printing contract dated 1565, signed between João Álvares, the printer of the University of Coimbra, and the Monastery of Santa Cruz. This document, preserved in the Archive of the University of Coimbra, represents a rare exemplar of its kind, with few surviving instances from the 16th-century period in Portugal. Printing contracts contain pivotal information, not only about the production of a book, but also about the role of the agents involves in the creation and trade of printed objects, thus acquiring unique importance for Book History.

The printing contract in question pertains to the production of a new breviary, which was commissioned by the Monastery of Santa Cruz and entrusted to the printer of the University of Coimbra, João Álvares. The present article provides a contextual framework for the contract within the broader career trajectory of João Álvares, followed by a meticulous examination of the document’s terms, which is appended. Furthermore, it presents an approach to the study of another book printed in Coimbra, as mentioned in this contract, with the aim of demonstrating how manuscripts can offer essential insights into the circulation of books that are not captured within their printed content.