Carlo Collodi

CARLO COLLODI (Florence, 1826–1890).
“Les Aventures d'en Pinotxo,” 1934. First edition in Catalan.
Shows signs of wear due to age.
Publisher: Editorial Juventud, Barcelona.
Measurements: 29 x 22.5 x 1.5 cm.
First Catalan edition of one of the great classics of world children’s literature, published by Editorial Joventut in Barcelona in 1934, during the Second Republic. The translation was done by Maria Sandiumenge, and the illustrations were created by Josep Vinyals. The volume was published as part of the publisher’s collection of masterpieces of children’s literature and consists of 128 illustrated pages.
The publication of *Les aventures d’en Pinotxo* marks a particularly significant milestone in the history of children’s books in Catalonia. During those years, the Catalan publishing industry was experiencing a period of significant expansion, and publishers were adding translations of major international classics to their catalogs, aimed at new generations of readers. Alongside authors such as Andersen, the Brothers Grimm, and Barrie, Collodi held a prominent place within this publishing initiative. The initial print run for this edition was 5,300 copies, a figure that underscores the importance the publisher attached to the work and the existence of a sufficiently large readership of children in Catalan.
Carlo Collodi, the pen name of Carlo Lorenzini, was an Italian writer and journalist, universally celebrated as the creator of *The Adventures of Pinocchio*. Born in Florence, he was highly active in literature and journalism before turning his attention to children’s literature.