Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900)

www.copyrighthistory.org

Identifier: pt_1530

Commentary on privilege granted to Germão Galharde, Lisbon (1530)

Victor Drummond, translated by Patricia Akester

University affiliation

Please cite as:

Drummond, Victor, trans. Patricia Akester (year). ‘Commentary on privilege granted to Germão Galharde, Lisbon (1530),’ 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 granting of general printing privileges and freedoms to Germão Galharde

2. Abstract

Grants general printing privileges and freedoms to German Galharde or Germão Galharte, a French printmaker who settled in Lisbon in 1519. That same year Galharde printed «Missale secundum consuetudinem» using a mechanical device which had been sold to him by the heirs of Valentim Fernandes. In 1530 he was awarded by the monarch all privileges and freedoms that benefitted the «mechanical officers» of the Royal household. In 1536, Galharde printed the first Portuguese grammar book,«Grammatica da lingoagem portuguesa», authored by Fernão de Oliveira, of which there is a very rare copy purchased by the Portuguese National Library in 1867.

3. Content

Germão Galharde, a French printer working in Lisbon, the successor of Valentim Fernandes from 1519 onwards, was appointed printer of the royal household in 1530.In that same year a royal document determined that Germão may enjoy all privileges and freedoms enjoyed by the king's mechanical officers.

In 1539 Galharde went on to be granted the exclusive privilege, lasting ten years, to reprint a book (Cartilha) which was used to teach children authored by Dom Diogo Ortiz, Bishop of Viseu. 

He was also awarded the exclusive privilege, also lasting ten years, to print Repertório dos Tempos, by Spanish author André de Li, in Portuguese. According to Deslandes the latter was the first book to be printed in Coimbra and one of the rarest editions of the 16th century.

Essentially, the printmaker was the subject, in 1530, of a broad privilege to print (filled with general conditions and freedoms) and later, in 1539,  of a permission to print specific works.

4. References