Printers of the Special Collections

Continuing our series on the notable printers of our early printed books collections, we introduce you to the talented Elzevir family, who operated in Amsterdam and Leiden from 1583-1712, and produced some of the most desirable printings of the handpress era. Daniel and Louis Elzevir, who worked in Amsterdam in the mid-C17th, produced Principia philosophiæ six years after the death of its author René Descartes (1596-1650).

T.p.

Founded by Louis Elzevir (approximately 1540-1617), this printing dynasty boasted a range of mottoes, motifs and pictorial embellishments, and this printing bears the Pallas Athena device of the later Elzevirs, with olive tree, owl and shield, and the motto ‘Ne extra oleas’.

Printers' device.

If you would like to view/ consult this item or any item from the Old Library Collection, please submit an online request or contact the staff of the Special Collections Reading Room in the Hardiman Research Building at specialcollections@nuigalway.ie.