Levinus (Levin van)
Hulsius (Hulsen)

born around 1550 Ghent – ​​buried March 13, 1606 Frankfurt/Main. ∞ I) N. N., at least one son of Esaias; II) N. N.; III) Maria Ruting, at least three sons, including Friedrich, a daughter. In 1590 he settled in Nuremberg as a French language teacher, and also made a name for himself as a notary, geographical author and publisher. At first he self-published his works, later he became officially active as a publisher. Many of his works were printed by Christoph Lochner in Nuremberg, but Hulsius also employed external presses. His own activity as a printer in Nuremberg could not be established. His most famous work was his “Collection of 26 Voyages”, the first seven volumes of which appeared in Nuremberg from 1598 onwards, and the remaining volumes appeared in Frankfurt until 1650. His Nuremberg publications also included the "Emblemata anniversaria Academiae Altdorfinae," the Altdorf award medals from 1582 to 1597, with 64 etchings by Hans Sibmacher and the acknowledgments of the award winners, printed by Christoph Lochner in 1597, as well as the expanded edition "Epitome Emblematum panegyricorum Academiae Altdorfinae," the Altdorf award medals from 1576 to 1601, published in 1602, with 98 etchings by Hans Sibmacher. An excerpt in German was published in 1603. In Nuremberg, Hulsius also traded in mathematical instruments such as astrolabes, night clocks, and armillary spheres, although he did not manufacture them himself. He wrote illustrated instructions for their use. In his price list of 1590, a wooden quadratum geometricum cost 2 thalers, one in gilded brass 9 thalers. Astrolabes made of gilded brass cost 10 and 20 thalers, while cheaper versions were available for 3 and 4 thalers. A sphere circularis "with all the beautiful stars" cost 80 thalers. Neatly mounted and illuminated terrestrial and celestial globes were available for 20 thalers; he had the copperplate engravings made by Cornelis de Jode in Mons. In 1602, he moved to Frankfurt, where he became a citizen on April 27, 1602. He is said to have subsequently undertaken an extended business trip to Holland and England. According to Zülch, he also founded a printing press in Frankfurt, which his widow continued to run until 1610. Afterward, the widow, completely indebted, moved to Nuremberg and Oppenheim. A new edition of the work "Description of the Kingdom of Guianae" appeared in Frankfurt in 1612 with the imprint "Widow of Levin Hulsius." The printing and publishing houses were continued by his son, →Friedrich. Works: For a list of publications, see Will, GL II, pp. 206 and VI, pp. 138f., and Mitt. a. d. StadtBN, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1954 and Vol. 7, No. 2, 1958. MuS: NUREMBERG, GNM. –, StadtB. Lit.: ADB; Doppelmayr, 1730; Wurzbach; Zülch, 1935, p. 465; Pilz, in: MVGN 43, 1952; Barock, 1962; Werner, in: MVGN 53, 1965, p. 106; Sporhan-Krempel/Wohnhaas, 1973; Pilz, 1977; Ernst Merkel: The Bookseller Levinus Hulsius, in: Archives for Frankfurt, History and Art, Issue 57, 1980; Gouk, 1988. Exhibition: 1907/3; 1966/3, p. 20. (quoted from the Nuremberg Artists' Lexicon, edited by Manfred H. Grieb)