Christophe Plantin (1514-1589)

The man who gave his name to the typeface Plantin was not actually a type designer but a giant in the world of type and printing. Born in Tours, he was instructed in the art of bookbinding by the King's printer at Caen. In Antwerp, he founded a printing establishment and amassed great wealth. He also had establishments at Leyden and in Paris, and dominated the publishing world in Northern Europe, especially in Holland.

It was Plantin who set the fashion for engraved title pages. Peter Paul Rubens was amongst those who designed for him. In 1570, he was appointed court printer to the King Philip II of Spain. His epitaph in Antwerp states conceitedly:

Christophorus situs hic Plantinus, Regis Iberi

Typographus sed Rex Typographus ipse fuit.

(Here lies Christophe Plantin, not only Typographer of Kings

But King of Typographers.)

"You, Plantin, are the sun - not of Antwerp, nor of Belgium, but of the world. (Scribanius)"

[NOM]