House of Elzevir

Having previously worked in bookbinding and bookselling Lodewijk Elzevir had a fine understanding of every aspect of the making of a book when he finally moved on to become a printer and a publisher. Lodewijk and his descendants would found one of the most famous and productive printing houses of the early modern era, lasting for 130 years the house of Elzevir was known for its elegance and accuracy but also for the small and very portable formats used, such as the duodecimo format.\nNoteworthy among the works that would leave the Elzevir presses are the 'Elzevirian Republics', books describing the history and present of select countries around Europe and the world. While intended for an international market these last books will surely find a big readership among the Dutch merchant class and will help them understand the various countries they intend to invest in or trade with.