Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900)

www.copyrighthistory.org

Identifier: pt_1514

Commentary on privilege granted to João Pedro de Cremona , Lisbon (1514)

Victor Drummond, translated by Patricia Akester

University affiliation

Please cite as:

Drummond, Victor, trans. Patricia Akester (year). ‘Commentary on privilege granted to João Pedro de Cremona , Lisbon (1514)’ in Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds. L. Bently and M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org.

1. Full title

2. Abstract

3. Content

4. References

1. Full title

Letter ordering the delivery of parchments to João Pedro de Cremona so he could print a second edition of the royal ordinances

2. Abstract

Letter ordering the delivery of parchments to João Pedro de Cremona who in turn is ordered to print a second edition of the royal ordinances further, it is stated in the letter, to a printing privilege. The Italian printmaker had set up shop in Portugal in 1501 where he pursued his printing activity until 1517. It is said that Cremona started out by replicating Valentim Fernandes’ «Grammatica Pastranae», which the German printmaker had produced in 1497 and was successfully used by the General Schools of Lisbon. Whatever happened between the two printmakers, by 1504, Valentim Fernandes and João Pedro de Cremona jointly print a religious work.

3. Content

João Pedro Bonominis de Cremona was an Italian printer who at some point  worked jointly with Valentim Fernandes, in Portugal, on the printing of a work of a religious nature, authored by Dom Diego Ortiz, entitled Cathecismo pequeno da doctrina e instruçam que os xpaãos ham de crer e obrar pera conseguir a benaventurança eterna

Later the name of João Pedro Bonominis de Cremona emerges in a letter from King Dom Manuel to Thomé Lopez, an overseer. In this document, João Pedro de Carmona is ordered by King Dom Manuel to print a second edition of the five books of the royal ordinances. The king orders parchments to be delivered to Carmona, who does acknowledge receipt of 120 units on the back of the letter.

The printmaker also states that he was given the parchments by virtue of the award by the King of the privilege to print the royal ordinations.The relevant document may be deemed a letter entailing a printing privilege.

4. References