Elzevir Collection | Societas Deltian

ELZEVIRIANA

ELZEVIRIANA COLLECTION

This Deltian Library collection is dedicated to the Elzeviriana legacy—those exquisitely printed works by the Elzevir family of Dutch publishers, whose craftsmanship defined the aesthetics of the 17th century in terms of printing.

Recent in its formation, the collection has taken a thematic direction toward philosophy and classical antiquity, with special attention given to volumes concerning Ancient Greece and Rome. Preference is given to vellum-bound editions.

Beyond preservation, this collection is also part of a living effort: selected works—especially those never before rendered into English—are being carefully transcribed, translated, and digitised. The aim is to broaden access to these rare and often overlooked sources, making their insights available to a modern readership while retaining the scholarly dignity of their original form.

Non Solus (“not alone”) was the motto of the Elzevir publishing house; it conveys the idea that the reader is never alone when reading—a book is always a companion.

Elzevir emblem depicted in the Great Hall, Library of Congress Washington, D.C.

A pinnacle volume from the famed Respublicae series, Respublica Romana stands as one of the most sought-after and intellectually prized Elzevir publications. Revered for its crisp typographic elegance and compact scholarly authority, this edition offers a window into Rome’s constitutional and civic structure as seen through the precision of 17th-century Dutch printing. Among collectors, it is considered a crown jewel—rarely found in such refined preservation, and always admired for its gravitas.

A masterwork of early modern scholarship, Respublicae Graecorum captures the political systems of the ancient Greek world in unmatched Elzevir clarity. Issued in two compact volumes, this edition is among the rarest in the Respublicae series—coveted not only for its scarcity but for the breadth of Hellenic states it surveys. Its meticulous Latin renderings and enduring vellum craftsmanship make it a cornerstone for any serious Elzevir collection, bridging classical antiquity with the golden age of Dutch humanist printing. Of this particular work, Societas Deltian offers an English translation which can be found here.

ELZEVIRIAN REPUBLICS, (Petites Républiques)

Respublicae Elzevirianæ

(also known as: Elzevirian Republics; Petites Républiques)

Netherlands — 1625-1649

REPUBLICS (ELZEVIR)

Series Note: Between 1625 and 1649, Bonaventure and Abraham Elzevir published the famous Respublicae series from their Leiden press—thirty-five compact volumes covering European nations, select regions of Asia and Africa, and ancient states like Greece, Rome, and Israel. These pocket-sized books offered detailed overviews of each country’s geography, customs, politics, economy, and ruling families, and are often considered the first travel guide series in history.

The Deltian Library highlights these Elzevirian republics as foundational works—early models of portable knowledge that bridged scholarship and curiosity, and helped shape the modern way of seeing nations.

This document lists the known titles in the series, as well as several speculated or debated entries that may have once been planned or printed but remain unconfirmed.

ARRANGED BY YEAR OF PUBLICATION

Respublica Galliae. Elzevir, 1626.

Subject: France.

Respublica, sive Status Regni Scotiae et Hiberniae. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1627.

Subject: Scotland and Ireland.

Helvetiorum Respublica. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1627.

Subject: Swiss Republic.

Contraremi (Casp.) de Republica Venetorum. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1628.

Subject: Venetian Republic.

Respublica Romana. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1629.

Subject: Ancient Roman Republic.

Gallia sive de Francorum Regis Dominiis et opibus Commentarius. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1629.

Hispania sive de Regis Hispaniae regnis et Opibus, Commentarius. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1629.

Subject: Spain.

Tractatus Varii de Regno Daniae et Norwegiae, etc. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1629.

Subject: Denmark and Norway.

Respublica Hollandiae et Urbes. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1630.

Subject: Dutch Republic.

Respublica Moscoviae. Elzevir, 1630. 3 vols.

Subject: Muscovy.

Moscoviae et Urbes. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1630.

Subject:

Russia, seu Moscovia itemque Tartaria. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1630.

Subject: Russia...

Belgii Confoederati Respublica, seu Gelriae, Hollandiae, etc. Descriptio. Lugd. Bat.[= Leiden], Elzevir, 1630.

Subject: Belgium.

Chinensis Regni Descriptio. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1630.

Subject: Kingdom of China.

Commentarius de Imperio Magni Mongolis sive India vera. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1631.

Subject: Mongol Empire.

Smithi (T.) de Republica Anglorum. lib. III. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1631.

Subject: England.

Tractatus Varii de Principatibus Italiae. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1631.

Subject: Principalities of Italy.

Cunaei (Petri) de Republica Hebraeorum. lib. III. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1632..

Subject: Ancient Israel.

Emmii (Ubbonis) Graecorum Respublicae, 2 vols in one. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1632-44.

Subject: Ancient Greece.

Suecia, sive Suecorum Regis Dominiis et Opibus Commentarius. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1633.

Subject: Sweden.

Sabaudiae Respublica et Historia. Lugd. Bat. [=Leyden], Elzevir, 1634.

Subject: Duchy of Savoy.

Turcici Imperii Status, accedit de Regno Algeriano atque Tunetano Commentarius. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1634.

Subject: Turkey, Algeria, Tunis.

Respublica et Status Regni Hungariae. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1634.

Subject: Hungary.

Respublica et Status Imperii Romano-Germanici, 2 vols. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1634-40.

Subject: Holy Roman Empire.

Respublica Lutzenburgensis, Hannoniae et Namurcensis. Amsterdam, 1635.

Subject: Republics of Lucerne, Hannover, Namur.

Bertramus (Bonav. Corn.) de Republica Ebraeorum. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1641.

Subject: Ancient Israel.

T. Smithi de Republica Anglorum. Elzevir, 1641.

Subject: England.

Respublica, sive Status Regni Poloniae, Liuanae, Prussiae, Livoniae, etc. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1642.

Subject: Poland, Latvia, Prussia, Lithuania, etc.

Respublica Poloniae. Elzevir, 1642.

Subject: Poland.

Stranskii (M. Pauli) Respublica Bohemiae. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1643.

Subject: Bohemia.

Persia seu Regni Persici Status variaque Itinera in atque per Persiam, cuts. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1647.

Subject: Persia.

Varenii (Bern.) Descriptio Regni Japoniae, 2 vols. in 1. Amsterdam, Elzevir, 1649.

Subject: Kingdom of Japan.

POSSIBLE ADDITIONS TO THE LIST

Werdenhagen (Jo. Angelii) de Rebuspublicis Hanseaticis Tractatus generalis et specialis, 4 vols. in 3. Lugd. Bat. [= Leiden], Elzevir, 1631.

Subject: Hanseatic Republic.

Werdenhagen. Introductio Universalis in omnes Republicas, sive Politica Generalis. fine portrait. Amsterdam, 1632.

Subject: Universal Introduction to All Republics, or General Politics.

​Societas Deltian

ELZEVIRIANA

ELZEVIRIANA COLLECTION

ELZEVIRIAN REPUBLICS, (Petites Républiques)

Societas Deltian