Hieronymus Verdussen

Hieronymus Verdussen started a dynasty of printers in Antwerp in late 16th century that lasted until the late 18th century.

Verdussen started working as an apprentice to the bookseller and printer Hendrick Wouters, and became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke, guild of artists and book printers, in 1590. In 1595 he tried to expand his business by buying the shop of Machteld vande Wouwere, but was forced to sell it because the laws of the guild allowed a freeman to have only one shop. However he managed to branch out in 1613, when his son Guilliam became a master printer. He gave his old shop De Tien Geboden (The Ten Commadments) to Guilliam, while he moved to a bigger location, De Rode Leeuw (The Red Lion) in the Kammenstraat, a street in the city centre where all the important printers had their offices. Of Verdussen’s ten children, the oldest son Hieronymus II took over his well established business in 1635.