Lodewijk Elzevir

Lodewijk Elzevir (c. 1540–1617) was a printer and publisher born in Leuven. He began as a bookbinder in an Antwerp workshop and, after moves through Wesel and Douai, settled in Leiden before 1580. In 1583 he produced his first book there, founding the House of Elzevir.

Its books favoured legible type, often in small formats with narrow margins. After his death his sons and grandsons expanded the business, which published Galileo's Two New Sciences when its author could not publish in Italy. The family business continued until 1791.