A.X.F.A. [Antonio Xavier Ferreira de Azevedo]

Palafox em Saragoça, ou  Batalha de 10 de agosto do anno de 1808. Drama

em tres actos, por A. X. F. A.

Bahia : Na Typographya de Manoel Antonio da Silva Serva, Anno de 1812. 

8vo (14 × 9.5 cm);184 pp.

Editio princeps, the first issue with p.163 still incorrectly misnumbered “16”.

A rare early Brazilian theatrical imprint anonymously published under the pseudonym A.X.F.A., attributed to the acclaimed Portuguese playwright António Xavier Ferreira de Azevedo (1784-1814).  Printed in Salvador, Bahia, in 1812, the work is among the earliest theatrical plays published in Brazil, following the prohibition of this drama in Portugal.  Ferreira de Azevedo, a talented but short-lived dramatist, died only two years after its publication.

The book was produced at the press of Manoel António da Silva Serva, the first in the state of Bahia, and among the pioneer private printing initiatives in Brazil. Established in 1811, the press remained active only until 1819, but played an important role in the early development of printing and literary culture in Brazil.

The drama relates the heroic defense of Zaragoza during the Peninsular War, focusing on the Spanish general José de Palafox y Melci and the events surrounding the battle of 10 August 1808, one of the celebrated episodes of resistance against Napoleonic forces.

Early Brazilian dramatic publications are notably scarce, and this work stands as a significant example of the circulation of political and literary themes across the Portuguese and Spanish worlds during the Napoleonic era.

Physical Description

Modern full red leather binding; covers ruled in gilt; gilt lettering to front cover and spine; decorative gilt inner dentelles; antique hand-painted marbled endpapers, manuscript ownership inscription at title reading “De Joaquim Aurelio de Oliveira.”

Title page slightly smudged with small restoration, margins trimmed, approximately seven leaves with old stains, one leaf with marginal loss of paper at the corner, another (pp. 95-96) with the upper corner absent affecting the text (see image), occasional little perforations, last leaf restored touching a few words, other minor imperfections.

Subjects:  Brazilian printing history, dramas, Portuguese first editions, Bahia 1812 imprint, Manoel Antonio da Silva Serva press, Antonio Xavier Ferreira de Azevedo, Palafox em Saragoça, early Brazilian theatre publications, Zaragoza 1808, Peninsular War literature, Napoleonic Wars, rare Brazilian imprints, Luso-Brazilian literature, 19th-century theatre in colonial Brazil.