A Homecoming After Decades of Uncertainty

After an odyssey spanning over eighty years,two invaluable incunabula from the late fifteenth century have been repatriated to Lleida. These past volumes, onc bearing the marks of the Library of the Diocesan Seminary of Lleida and the Leridan Public Library, resurfaced after a private collector attempted to bring them to market. The recovery marks a notable victory for cultural heritage preservation.

Acquisition and Return: A Collaborative Effort

Recognizing the immense historical and cultural importance of these early printed books, the Ministry of Culture intervened, acquiring them in December for €50,000. The official handover took place yesterday at the Lleidan State Library Center, under the management of the Generalitat.This acquisition underscores the government’s commitment to safeguarding national treasures and ensuring their accessibility to the public and researchers alike.

The Unique Character of the Lleida incunabula

María José Gálvez, General Director of the Book of the Ministry of Culture, emphasized the extraordinary nature of these copies. Printed in Lleida around 1495 by Henricus Botes, a German typographer who operated a workshop in the city during the late fifteenth century, these ordinary hylerdensis books offer a glimpse into the liturgical practices of the time. These texts,unique for their combination of Latin and Catalan,and the use of both black and red ink,detail liturgical protocols ranging from baptisms to exorcisms,and even include musical scores.

“These two specimens will be digitized for dissemination and will be available to researchers.”

Antònia Capdevila, director of the Public Library of Lleida

Historical Context: Lleida as a Printing Hub

The presentation of the incunabula also featured insights from Màrius Bernadó, a musicologist and professor at the UDL specializing in medieval liturgical literature. Bernadó shed light on the historical significance of Lleida as an early printing center. Notably, the oldest printed liturgical incunable of the Iberian Peninsula originated from the Botes workshop in 1479, highlighting the city’s pioneering role in the dissemination of knowledge through print.

Digitization and Accessibility

Looking ahead, Antònia Capdevila, director of the Public Library of Lleida, announced plans to digitize the incunabula. This initiative will ensure that these precious historical documents are accessible to researchers and the public worldwide, furthering scholarly understanding and gratitude of Lleida’s rich cultural heritage. Digitization efforts are crucial in preserving fragile historical documents, as demonstrated by the British Library’s ongoing project to digitize its collection of incunabula, which currently holds over 13,000 items.

The Broader Significance of Incunabula

Incunabula, defined as books printed before 1501, represent a pivotal moment in the history of communication. They bridge the gap between the age of manuscripts and the era of mass-produced books. The survival and rediscovery of these Lleida incunabula offer a tangible connection to the past, providing invaluable insights into the cultural, religious, and intellectual life of fifteenth-century europe. The return of these volumes is not just a local event but a contribution to the global understanding of early printing and its impact on society.