Vergara

Description

Initially created by Josep M. Esteve as a bookshop and distributor, Editorial Vergara started operating as a publishing house in around 1949-1950. Since the beginning it has published great works to sell in instalments with the goal of issuing large-format works, literature and history. The prominence earned in its early years prompted the creation of a branch in Madrid along with several subsidiaries in Latin America.

In the late 1950s, with Nicolau Surís at the helm and editor and poet Josep Maria Boix i Selva as the literary editor, it participated in creating the graphic workshops Printer and Círculo de Lectores. It also co-issued two profusely illustrated art books with the Paris-based Nathan publishing house. Some of its earliest collections, including Velero y Abedul, Verdad y Vida and Mapamundi, lasted only briefly, but the titles published within them were added to other collections created subsequently.

By the early 1970s, the publishing house had developed a comprehensive, solid range of topics and collections, with large-format encyclopaedic works, translations of informational monographs on a variety of topics, art and history books and an extensive literary section of works by universally renowned authors classified by literatures. Worth noting is the Isard collection (1962-1971), a personal, innovative project by Josep M. Boix whose main goal was to publish a series of world literature titles from all eras and styles in Catalan, along with original works in Catalan. Vergara also launched a record label of the same name directed by Oriol Martorell, which published the monologues of Joan Capri and ended up being renamed Ariola after being acquired by Bertelsmann.

In 1975, Vergara merged with Argos, a publishing house founded by Ignasi Agustí, to become Argos Vergara, under the literary direction of Mario Lacruz, which led to a major transformation in the publishing house.

Vergara

Authors

Throughout its history, Vergara published authors on a variety of topics, especially titles from universal literature since its founding, along with illustrated books, large-format encyclopaedias and popular informational works.

Vergara

Illustrators and photographers

Vergara

Literary editors

Boix i Selva, J. M. (Josep Maria), 1914-1996

Vergara

Collections

Some of the original collections lasted only briefly, but the titles in those collections were revived under others created later. The publishing house did not present a consolidated range of topics and collections through encyclopaedic works, translations of popular works and illustrated books on art and history until Josep Maria Boix i Selva became the literary director.

Vergara

Outstanding works

La Pesta by Albert Camus was the first book in the Isard collection, translated into Catalan by Joan Fuster.
Camus, Albert. La Pesta. Barcelona: Vergara, cop. 1962

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L'Enciclopedia de la mujer is representative of the early encyclopaedic publications, this one targeted specifically at women.
Enciclopedia de la mujer. Barcelona: Vergara, cop. 1961-<1962>.

First publication in 1956 of the Memorias (memoirs) of Harry S. Truman, from the collection El mensaje del siglo.
Truman, Harry S. Memorias. Barcelona: Vergara, 1956. v.1.

First publication of the Spanish translation of Las filosofías de la existencia, by Jean Wahl, from the collection Nuevos horizontes.
Wahl, Jean. Las filosofías de la existencia. Barcelona: Vergara, 1956.

Illustration by Esther Boix from the book Obras by Goethe, from the collection Clásicos Vergara.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von. Obras. Barcelona: Vergara, 1963.

Illustration by Ramon de Capmany from the book La Celestina y Lazarillos, from the collection Clásicos Vergara.
Rojas, Fernando de. La Celestina y Lazarillos. Barcelona: Vergara, 1959.

Illustration by Ismael Balanyà from the book Obras by Lope de Vega, from the collection Clásicos Vergara.
Vega, Lope de. Obras. Barcelona: Vergara, [1963].

Illustration by Olga Sacharoff from the book Las mil y una noches (1001 Nights), from the Clásicos Vergara collection..
Las mil y una noches. Barcelona: Vergara, [1965].

Illustration by Joan Vila-Grau from líada ; Odisea (Iliad ; Odyssey) by Homer, from the collection Clásicos Vergara.
Homer. Ilíada ; Odisea. Barcelona: Vergara, cop. 1960.