Antwerp Act 3 - Museum Plantin - Moretus

Christophe Planting, a bookbinder and leather crafter from France arrived in Antwerp in the middle of the 16th century. The city was experiencing its golden age. In 1555 Christophe Plantin publishes his first book and pretty soon, prominent writers and scientists find their way to his printing office, the Officiana Plantiniana.

Plantin is a shrewd businessman. He manoeuvres his way around the religious and political conflicts of his days. Through labour and perseverance is his motto. The publishing firm will become a multinational with branches in Frankfurt, Leiden and Paris. He was a true visionary and he created a type of internet of information and knowledge for the 16th century.

In less than twenty years Plantin’s publishing firm ranks among the top of Europe’s industrial leaders. Plantin is the founding father of nine generations of printers at the Vrijdagmarkt in Antwerp.

The museum contains many treasures including the two oldest printing presses in existence, a wonderful collection of type facing fonts ( Plantin took out the IP on the Times Roman font as he saw the potential) he really was quite the visionary and well ahead of his time. He had several daughters who he insisted they learn to read and write and a number of paintings of the family have been done by Paul Rubens a close personal friend. Plantin also was well acquainted with philosophers, thought leaders of the time, doctors, pharmacists and herbalists. He saw the potential in publishing their works to share more broadly and inform people of developments in medicine etc.Read more