Jaume Pla created the Rosa Vera publishing house in 1949, with the economic backing of Víctor M. d’Imbert, even though prior to that date five illustrated books with the Rosa Vera imprint had already been published, the first in 1945. In line with the founder’s ideology, the publishing house is characterised by the importance it attached to illustration.
+ informationEdicions de la Rosa Vera collection at the Biblioteca de Catalunya
The documentation from this publishing house is in the Ramón Borràs collection of autographs. Several documents are conserved, including letters, receipts and contracts which span from 1945 to 1975. The set of publishing catalogues from the Bergnes de las Casas collection contains some of its catalogues.
Catalogue of publishers from the Bergnes de las Casas collection (Biblioteca de Catalunya)
More information and documentation on the works produced
Els 98 gravadors de la Rosa Vera : del 6 de febrer al 7 d'abril de 1985, Palau de la Virreina. Barcelona: Ajuntament de Barcelona, DL 1984.
Rosa Vera: una aportació a la història del gravat modern a Catalunya, tesi doctoral de Maria Mercè Casanovas i Aleix.
Jaume Pla created the Rosa Vera publishing house in 1949, with the economic backing of Víctor M. d’Imbert, even though prior to that date five illustrated books with the Rosa Vera imprint had already been published, the first in 1945. In line with the founder’s ideology, the publishing house is characterised by the importance it attached to illustration.
Edicions de la Rosa Vera became a bibliophile publishing house, with each volume containing original engravings and painstaking editing. Emili Grau Sala, Josep Granyer and Jaume Pla himself, among many others, were the most prominent illustrators who worked for the publishing house, and their drawings and engravings illustrate works by renowned authors of Catalan literature.
Despite the importance attached to illustration, the writers published by Edicions de la Rosa Vera are renowned literarily as well.
The illustrators or engravers held a prominent place in this publishing house given the importance it attached to illustration.
It is impossible to mention Rosa Vera without citing its innovative Monografies de la Rosa Vera, which turn the book and author relationship around. The core of this collection is the images, and the texts, written afterward, play the traditional role of illustrations. This is a clear attempt to spotlight the engraver, who was always regarded as a secondary figure but who in this publishing house is spotlighted and celebrated.
Plate 1 of the work by Grau Sala, Emili. 12 puntes seques i un autoretrat. Lyrical illustrations by Josep Janés i Olivé. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1958.
Plate 3 of the work by Granyer, Josep. 12 aiguaforts i un autoretrat. Lyrical illustrations by Pere Quart. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1962.
Frontispiece and title page of the work Pla, Jaume. 12 gravats i un autoretrat. Literary illustrations by Joan Teixidor. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1982.
Title page of the work by Ruyra, Joaquim. Les coses benignes. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1935.
The first publication by Jaume Pla is characterised by its precision and attention to detail, illustrated by himself, it is an exemplary piece in the bibliophile genre.
Frontispiece and title page of the work by Carner, Josep. Bestiari. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1964.
It can be said that this work does not fit the usual pattern of Edicions de la Rosa Vera, as the only illustration is a portrait of Josep Carner, drawn by Jaume Pla himself.
Plate 8 engraving by Jaume Pla in the work by Fuster, Joan. L’albufera de València. Barcelona: Rosa Vera, 1970.
Joan Fuster showed interest in being published by Edicions de la Rosa Vera, and in collaboration with Jaume Pla, this work about the Albufera lagoon in Valencia was brought to light.