According to the Italian custom, he began at an early age to write Hebrew poems on special occasions.
This library was largely increased by Joseph Almanzi, its rare editions and manuscripts making it one of the most important in private possession.
He was a graceful writer, and, above all, a clever translator into Biblical Hebrew of the poems of the great Italian authors.
After his death S. D. Luzzatto published a number of his Hebrew letters and of his poems, in a collection entitled Yad Yosef ('The Hand of Joseph', Cracow and Triest, 1889).
Almanzi's family published in his honour a catalogue of his Hebrew library, which was compiled by his lifelong friend Luzzatto, who also wrote a preface.