Elzevir

Elzevir, family of Dutch printers and publishers. Louis Elzevir (1540?–1617) founded a bookselling business in Leiden (1583). Bonaventure (1583–1652), a son, and Abraham (1592–1652), a grandson, became printers to the university. The business later expanded to other Dutch cities, and the Elzevir printers were widely admired for their design and typography. In the early 18th century, the Elzevir company was the largest publishing company in the world.