Editing Isaac Elzevir

[[Image:LoC printer mark painting Elzevir.jpg|thumb|Elsevir printer mark depicted in the [[Library of Congress]]]]

'''Isaac Elzevir''' (11 March 1596, [[Leiden]] – 8 October 1651, [[Cologne]]),  in Dutch '''Isaac Elsevier''', was a Dutch publisher and printer who began printing with one of the earliest printing press in the city of [[Leyden]] in the year 1617.  Although the [[House of Elzevir]] ceased publishing in 1712, the modern Dutch [[Elsevier]] company was founded in 1880 and took its name from the historic Dutch publishing house.

==Biography==
Isaac was the 2nd of Matthijs Elzevir's three sons and grandson of [[Lodewijk Elzevir]], founder of the House of Elzevir.  His publishing career spanned nine years and dominated the Leiden University printing business.

Isaac began his career buying a print shop in Leyden in 1616 and by 1620 was appointed Printer to Leiden University.  In 1625 Isaac brought the printing business of [[Thomas van Erpe]] with oriental fonts from his widow for the very large sum of 8000 guilders.  With the oriental typography of the Erpenius equipment - including Syrian, Arab, Aramaic and Hebrew fonts - they acquired a monopolistic position in the field of oriental typography.<sup>[1]</sup>  A year later, in 1626, Isaac sold his publishing business to his uncle [[Bonaventure Elzevir]] and nephew [[Abraham Elzevir]].

Isaac left Leyden after selling the printing business and purchased a tavern in Rotterdam. In 1629, he abandoned innkeeping to become provost general for the Admiralty of South Holland, [[Admiralty of Rotterdam|Admiralty of de Maze]], and Waal. Later, he became a brewer with his two youngest sons. Isaac died in Cologne in 1651 while traveling on business.<sup>[2]</sup>

==Elzevir Mark==

The Elzevir mark has been in use since Isaac introduced it in Leyden in 1620.  It depicts a vine or a snake entwined Elm tree.  A man stands beside the tree which supports a banner bearing the Latin motto ''Non Solus'' (not alone).

Images of the Elsevir mark appear at:
* [[Library of Congress]] (image at right)
* [[University of Illinois]] Main Library Printer's marks<sup>[3]</sup>

==References==
* 1. P. G. Hoftijzer, Well-versed in many letters: Non-Western typography in Europe and Leiden up to 1800
* 2. David W. Davies, The World of the Elseviers 1580-1712 (The Hague, 1954)
* 3. http://www.library.illinois.edu/rex/about/images/elzevir.jpg

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elzevir, Isaac}}
[[Category:1596 births]]
[[Category:1651 deaths]]
[[Category:Dutch printers]]
[[Category:Dutch publishers (people)]]
[[Category:People from Leiden]]
[[Category:17th-century printers]]