Isaac Elzevir 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

House of Elzevir

Elzevir is the name of a celebrated family of Dutch booksellers, publishers, and printers of the 17th and early 18th centuries. The duodecimo series of "Elzevirs" became very famous and very desirable among bibliophiles, who sought to obtain the tallest and freshest copies of these tiny...

 ceased publishing in 1712, the modern Dutch Elsevier

Elsevier

Elsevier is a publishing company which publishes medical and scientific literature. It is a part of the Reed Elsevier group. Based in Amsterdam, the company has operations in the United Kingdom, USA and elsewhere....

 company was founded in 1880 and took its name from the historic Dutch publishing house.

Biography

Isaac was the 2nd of Matthieu Elzevir's three sons and grandson of Lodewijk Elzevir

Lodewijk Elzevir

Lodewijk Elzevir , originally Lodewijk or Louis Elsevier or Elzevier, was a significant Dutch printer...

, 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

Thomas van Erpe

Thomas van Erpe [known as Thomas Erpenius] , Dutch Orientalist, was born at Gorinchem, in Holland....

 with oriental fonts from his widow for the very large sum of 8000 guilders. With the oriental typography of the Erpenius equipement - including Syrian, Arab, Aramaic and Hebrew fonts - they acquired a monopolistic position in the field of oriental typography. A year later, in 1626, Isaac sold his publishing business to his uncle Bonaventure Elzevir and nephew Abraham Elzevir

Abraham Elzevir

Abraham Elzevir was a Dutch printer. He inherited the House of Elzevir from his grandfather Louis Elzevir and his uncle Bonaventure Elzevir. In its best years it was reputedly the greatest publishing business in the world, with filials in numerous European cities.-External links:...

.

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 de Maze

Admiralty of Rotterdam

The Admiralty of Rotterdam, also called the Admiralty of de Maze, was one of the five Admiralties in the Dutch Republic.-History:It was set up in 1574 during the Dutch Revolt, when William I of Orange's supporters decided to pool their naval resources at Rotterdam...

, and Waal. Later, he became a brewer with his two youngest sons. Isaac died in Cologne in 1651 while traveling on business.

Elzevir Mark

The Elzevir mark has been in use since Isaac introduced it in Leyden in 1620. It depicts a vine 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:

• University of Illinois Main Library Printer's marks http://www.library.illinois.edu/rex/about/images/elzevir.jpg
• Library of Congress (image at right)