Martina est une petite fille lorsque ses parents s’établissent à Anvers. A dix-sept ans, elle tient la boutique de dentelle. Elle confie ses pensées à son journal intime.

1876. La ‘Officina Plantiniana’, la maison d’éditions de Christophe Plantin est mise en vente après 300 ans d’activité. Edward Moretus a rendez-vous avec un fonctionnaire communal pour régler les modalités de la vente.

In 1876, the ‘Officina Plantiniana’, the publishing house of Christoffel Plantin was sold after 300 years of activity. Edward Moretus made an appointment with a city official to arrange the sale.

As a young girl, Martina moved to Antwerp with her parents. At seventeen years old, she was running the business side of the company. She confided her thoughts and feelings in her diary.

Christoffel Plantin built his printing business into a successful enterprise. Nine generations of business leaders, immortalized in paint, hang together in this portrait gallery.

As a french speaker, a good Dutch dictionary was necessary for Plantin. Christoffel Plantin discusses his concerns with his proof reader Kiliaan. He made it his life’s work.

In the bookshop, books, maps and atlases are available over the counter. Some books are banned and will be placed on the ‘index’.

After the text had been printed, a proof reading followed. The professor read the text, the proof reader read the text afterwards and made improvements where necessary.Concentration is required and distraction is out of the question.

During turbulant times Plantin printed a Catholic card and wrote a letter to the Spanish King Filip II. The Spanish scretary recieved the letter and informed the King.

Plantin was the publisher favoured by scientists and humanists. Similarly by Joost Lips, the humanist writer who often stayed with Plantin, and is better known as Justus Lipsius.