(Christopher), a celebrated printer, was born near Tours in 1533, and bred to an art which he carried to the highest degree of perfection. He went and settled at Antwerp; and there erected a printing-office, which was considered not only as the chief ornament of the town, but as one of the most extraordinary edifices in Europe. A great number of ancient authors were printed here; and these editions were valued not only for the beauty of the characters, but also for the correctness of the text, with regard to which Plantin was so very nice, that he procured the most learned men to be correctors of his press. He got immense riches by his profession; which, however, he did not hoard up, but spent like a gentleman. He died in 1598, aged 65 years; and left a most sumptuous and valuable library to his grandson Balthasar.