Christophe Plantin

Printer and publisher
Christophe Plantin was a French book printer and publisher. He was born in Saint-Avertin, near the city of Tours, Touraine. First he worked as a bookbinder in Paris, but in 1548 he decided to go to Antwerp where he opened a book-bindery and soon became famous for his beautiful inlaid bindings and book covers. However, in 1555 he was attacked on a street and some drunken men ran a sword through his shoulder. He recovered but was unable to do manual labor and was therefore obliged to give up his trade. At that point he took up printing.

Plantin’s many publications were distinguished by their excellent typography, and he was original in using copper, instead of wood, engravings for book illustrations. His greatest venture, the Biblia Regia or Plantin Polyglot, was supported by Philip II of Spain in spite of clerical opposition and appeared in eight volumes during 1569–72. As the king was satisfied with the work he appointed Plantin Royal Architypographer, in charge of the printing of the newly-edited breviaries, missals, psalters, and other liturgical texts which were sent to Spain in great numbers at the expense of the king.

In November 1576, the Spaniards plundered and burned Antwerp and Plantin had to pay a ransom to protect his printing works. He established a branch office in Paris and then, in 1583, settled in Leiden as the typographer of the new university of the states of Holland. He returned to Antwerp in 1585 and remained there until his death on July 1, 1589. Between 1555 and 1589 Plantin printed 1,863 different book editions, an average of almost 55 each year. At the peak of his productivity, he probably had no fewer than 22 presses and 160 workers.