Joshua Bloch, “Early Hebrew Printing in Spain and Portugal”
Encyclopaedia Judaica, “Printing, Hebrew”
Overview
Hebrew printing appeared in Lisbon before printing in Latin or Portuguese had become established there. Eliezer Toledano and his associates produced works including Nahmanides’ Torah commentary and David Abudarham’s liturgical commentary. Their editions displayed technical ambition through clear type, decorative borders, and careful page design. The press served a learned Jewish public at a moment when Iberian communities faced growing political uncertainty. Its activity ended within only a few years as persecution and expulsion destroyed the conditions supporting Jewish printing. Surviving volumes preserve evidence of an interrupted Portuguese Hebrew book culture.
