Safra ve Saifa Publishing

Safra ve Saifa Publishing is an independent cultural institution operating at the intersection of the book, typography, and visual design, seeking to establish itself as a significant presence within the international landscape of culture and design.

The publishing house was founded and is directed by Igal Gabay, an art director, senior graphic designer, man of letters, and poet, who has been active in the field of design since 1982. Over the course of decades, Gabay has created a wide range of complex and large-scale projects, including corporate identity and branding for companies and institutions, as well as the design of postage stamps, coins, and medals, alongside books, publications, and works within the realm of visual culture. His work is characterized by a synthesis of conceptual depth, material sensitivity, and typographic precision, and has received professional recognition and awards.

Gabay’s worldview - regarding the book as a complete cultural object rather than merely a carrier of text - forms the foundation of the publishing house’s philosophy. From this perspective, Safra ve Saifa creates publications in which a close dialogue is maintained between content, form, and material.

The name of the publishing house is derived from the ancient expression “Safra ve Saifa” - “the book and the sword” - symbolizing the power of the written word and the sharpness of thought. In this spirit, the publishing house is committed to producing works that embody both intellectual presence and aesthetic refinement.

Safra ve Saifa operates as a broad cultural platform: not only as a publisher of books, but as a space for creation, research, and the dissemination of knowledge in the fields of typography, photography, design, and visual heritage. In addition to books, the publishing house produces posters, artist’s books, collector’s editions, and unique cultural objects.

Each publication is carefully conceived—from the initial idea to the final printed object. Particular attention is devoted to typography, the selection of paper, printing technologies, and the structure of the book as a lasting cultural artifact.

Safra ve Saifa does not seek to conform to existing models of publishing, but rather to propose an alternative: an independent and distinctive cultural entity, committed to quality, depth, and precision, and aspiring to establish itself as one of the significant voices in the international world of books and design.