Old Books

From textbooks to historical classics, world maps, and Bibles: throughout the centuries, we have several contributors to thank for such a diverse library, all motivated by their own purposes. Christophe Plantin initially purchased books to support his proofreaders and to use the texts in printed editions. His grandson, Balthasar I Moretus, was fond of classical authors and works on antiquity. Subsequent owners of the printing house further developed the library as a centre of knowledge for scholars such as Nicolas Heinsius and Franciscus Junius.  

Once the museum was established, the library continued to expand. The original curator, Max Rooses, filled out the Plantin and Moretus works with missing editions and 16th-century material from other Antwerp printers and publishing houses. Through a careful acquisition policy, the library now holds the most complete collection of prints coming off the presses at the Officina Plantiniana. 

1460 to 1801 represent four centuries of book printing in the shape of 28,000 bound early modern works. These include rare incunabula, editions from the Officina Plantiniana, and prints from foreign and local printing houses. Together, they offer a comprehensive understanding of early modern book production in a range of genres and subjects.  

In 1994, an unexpected treasure came to light: in the attic, employees found a huge stash of more than 68,000 single-sheet prints and almost 12,000 unbound works spanning from the 16th to the 18th century. What used to be work and stock material has now been repurposed into a valuable source of information about the workings of the Plantin printing house.  

These manuscripts, more than 650 in total, have been traced back to Christophe Plantin himself. From 1563 onwards, he collected manuscripts for potential publications and as reference material for his proofreaders. One of them was Theodoor Poelman, who diligently built up his own library collection. After his death, it came into Plantin’s possession. From the 17th century onwards, his successors continued to build the collection.  

The result? A collection that not only does justice to the history of the book but also outlines the relationship between printed works and manuscripts. Authors and scribes delivered their written texts to the printing house. Some went on to be published, others remained unused. In addition to the works of classical or early Christian authors, there are several original manuscripts of prominent humanists such as Justus Lipsius. These remain crucial for research up until today. 

Since its opening in 1877, the museum has been collecting specialist literature on printing and bookbinding. This collection supports research into editions printed and/or published by the Plantin printing house, as well as the history of the book trade. As of today, it includes more than 15,000 titles, 17 series, and 76 current periodicals, making it a reliable resource for global and local researchers, students, and professionals.