ELZEVIER (Elsevier). - A family of printers and booksellers active between 1583 and 1712 in the cities of Leiden, Amsterdam, The Hague, Utrecht, and Copenhagen.
The most significant branches were those in Leiden, founded by LODEWIJK I (b. in Louvain c. 1540), which ceased operations in 1713, and in Amsterdam, established in 1637 by LODEWIJK III (1604–70) and ending in 1681. The Leiden branch reached its peak through the partnership of BONAVENTURA and Abraham, who in 1625 began the *République* series, a collection of 62 volumes in duodecimo format containing descriptions of the principal countries of the world, and in 1629 launched the equally successful library of Latin classics. The Amsterdam branch flourished especially under Daniel (1626–80), whose name is associated with the French edition of the Bible in two volumes (1609).
Elzevirian editions are distinguished by their small formats (duodecimo, sextodecimo, and twenty-fourmo) and by their thin, elegant typefaces.