EDITORIAL
Publish or Perish One of the most interesting museums in the world is the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, Belgium, which is dedicated to the art and science of book printing. Christopher Plantin, originally from France, started a printing house in Antwerp and published his first book in 1555. In 34 years he managed to publish more than 1500 works—an average of nearly 50 a year. This number, which was phenomenal for that time, made Plantin the first great "industrial" printer. However, he was an industrial printer who knew how to publish perfectly, and he was always dedicated to publishing the most meritorious and prominent works. His son-in-law Jan Moretus, who became his partner and successor, continued in the fine tradition of his mentor. Run by various members of the family, the firm continued for several centuries until 1866, when the last book left the old presses. In 1877 the Plantin House became a museum owned by the city of Antwerp, thereby preserving many treasures of the early history of printing. A visitor to the museum today can appreciate the remarkable accomplishments of the early pioneers in book publishing. The printing of a book is the result of many operations, and the showcases in the museum bring together the different materials and instruments that were necessary at that time. Included are
the manuscript of the author ready for press, the casting of the printing types, the wood blocks and copper plates of the illustrations, the punches and casting molds necessary for the compositor's sticks, and other tools for composition. In each period of its history the book had a particular appearance, and the displays illustrate the characteristics and peculiarities of the book in its historical evolution from the time of Guttenberg (ca. 1450) until the end of the eighteenth century. The Plantin-Moretus Museum also contains libraries of about 30,000 volumes and about 500 manuscripts, many of which have extraordinary historical and artistic importance. About 150 paintings by Flemish masters, including 18 by P. P. Rubens, decorate the walls of the museum. To mark the 400th anniversary this year of the death of Christopher Plantin, the museum has assembled an impressive exhibit of the early published works of science and medicine. For those who think of printing as a business, a visit to the museum will quickly reveal the wealth of culture in this important endeavor.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL. 61, NO. 13, JULY 1, 1989 · 767 A
