From Manuscript to Print: academic, school and professional books (Valencia, 1474-1500)

The need to greatly expand the number of copies of the same title became evident with the creation of the universities in the 13th century, a demand that was met with a primitive system of multiple copying, the ‘pecia’. The spread of the printing press in the 15th century brought about a real revolution in the world of books in general and in the university setting in particular. During the period we call ‘incunabula’, around a hundred books were published in the city of Valencia, a large proportion of which were intended for teaching and for professionals such as doctors, notaries, jurists and members of the city’s high clergy. The article also traces the progressive replacement of the old manuscripts by printed books in private libraries, not only in Valencian presses but especially in books from abroad.