Albert Martín
(Updated 08/10/2024)
This publishing house was founded by Albert Martín in the first decade of the 20th century. It was later run by his wife, Dolores Zamora, and their daughter, Dolors Martín Zamora.
+ informationSearch collections
Albert Martín publishing house collection at the Biblioteca de Catalunya
Blanca Bonet Martín, the granddaughter of Albert Martín, donated 9,630 retouched photographs to the library distributed in 94 boxes, along with around 9,000 glass negatives, the majority of which correspond to the photographs printed on paper, and 150 stereoscopic views, also printed on paper. The photographs, which date from the early 20th century, are an extremely good way to learn about the history and customs of Spain, since they feature typically folkloric scenes in the different provinces, as well as monuments, objects and iconic locations.
The city of Girona in the early 20th century, photographs from the collections conserved at the Biblioteca de Catalunya.
Biblioteca de Catalunya photography collection
More information and documentation on the works produced
Catalogue of publishers of Catalonia until 1939 (Biblioteca de Catalunya)
Albert Martín
Description
This publishing house was founded by Albert Martín in the first decade of the 20th century. It was later run by his wife, Dolores Zamora, and their daughter, Dolors Martín Zamora.
It always specialised in publications on topics such as geography, folklore and tourism, so its publications stand out for the vast amount of photographic material from around Spain gathered throughout its lifespan. In around 1966, the granddaughter of the founder closed the publishing house, which had been located at 140 Carrer Consell de Cent, Barcelona.
Albert Martín
Authors
Albert Martín mingled with the intellectuals and historians of his day, many of whom were members of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya (Hiking Centre of Catalonia). Thus, his publishing house issued works by authors like Francesc Carreras Candi and Ernest Moliné i Brasés.
Albert Martín
Illustrators and photographers
The photographer’s name does not appear on the majority of photographs printed by the publishers, but we do know the names of some of them.
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Albert Martín
Collections
Albert Martín published several collections of postcards, such as the one of the different provinces of Spain. In the picture, the four provinces of Catalonia.
Albert Martín
Outstanding works
The publishing house’s main lines were geography and history, and they were benchmarks in these fields. The works published do not show the year of publication, most likely avoid the expiry of the copyrights. However, this makes it difficult to date the pieces.
- Carreras i Candi, Francesc. Cataluña Ilustrada. Barcelona: Alberto Martín, Post. a 1922.
Four-volume work by the historian Carreras Candi which describes the four provinces of Catalonia.
Cover and title page of Cataluña Ilustrada
- Carreras i Candi, Francesc. Geografia general de Catalunya. Barcelona: Albert Martín, [1913?-1918?]
With the same structure as the previous one and overseen by the same author, it stands out for the detailed decoration on the cover and the numerous photographs contained inside the book.
Cover and title page of Geografia general de Catalunya
