Sebastien Cramoisy

Sebastien Cramoisy , French printer-bookseller, born with Paris in 1585, died in 1669.

It is received printer-bookseller in 1606, and takes again the Three Storks, celebrates it bookstore of his grandfather, Sebastien Nivelle.

Its production is very largely dominated by the religious works, which they are books of devotion (breviaries) or works of the Pères of the Church. It becomes, with his cousin Chappelet, " the right-hand man of the Jesuits français" according to the expression of Henri-Jean Martin and in particular their vast teaching production publishes. It also prints the Cisterciens, the Prémontrés, like certain works of the Minimes. This position in the leading market ensures him of the considerable incomes.

It also profits from the favors of the political power. Sebastien Cramoisy is dependant since 1614 with Richelieu, of which it prints the first works. In 1629, it obtains the privilege to print all the acts of the Court of the currencies and on March 18th 1639, thanks to the benevolence of the Chancelier Séguier, it with the honor to count among the five booksellers authorized to print the royal acts. In 1656, it is chosen by the Council of State to control the deposit of the publications of the Bibliothèque of the king. He was the first director of the royal printing works of Louvre (1640); this direction remains in the family until in 1701.

Its power among the Parisian booksellers was worth the nicknames d'" to him; architypographe" or of " king of the Street Saint-Jacob " , by reference to the street where the printer-booksellers were concentrated. It is thus logically that he exerts responsibilities in the leading world, then in municipal management. He is syndic of the community of the printers, booksellers and Parisian bookbinders in 1628 and 1643. He becomes judge consul in 1636 and 1652 and reaches the rank of alderman of the city in 1639.

The end of its career is however animated. In 1658, it avoids accuracy the bankruptcy. He dies in 1669, leaving funds of 400.000 books and an immense fortune. Its grandson, Sebastien Marble-Cramoisy, succeed to him the direction of royal Printing works but, the company is liquidated in 1687.

One has of him:

of the editions of Holy Jean Chrysostome, 1624, 6 folio volumes;
of the editions of Nicéphore Calliste, 1630, 2 folio volumes;
of the Historiae Francorum scriptores of Andre Duchesne, 1636, 6 folio volumes.

Source

On Sebastien Cramoisy, to see Henri-Jean Martin, Book, capacities and company in Paris at the XVIIe century (1598-1701) , 2 volumes, Droz, Paris and Geneva, 1969.

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