As every amateur is aware, the Elzevirs frequently--but not always--marked their title-pages with devices, of which the most frequent were the Sphere, the Hermit, Minerva, and the Eagle on a cippus (low column) holding in its claws a sheaf of seven arrows. As each firm adopted or relinquished the family marks to suit its convenience at the time, it becomes necessary to tabulate them for the purpose of avoiding confusion. The number in brackets gives the total number of books, not including catalogues, produced by the firm to which it is annexed.
_Louis Elzevir._ 1583-1617 (102 books). Marks.--A hand, with the device--"Æqvabilitate". An angel with a book. The Eagle (with seven darts representing the seven provinces of the Netherlands) on a cippus, with the inscription--"Concordia res parvæ crescunt" (most frequent). A book of music, opened.
_Matthieu and Bonaventure Elzevir._ 1617-1622 (71 books). Marks.--The Eagle on a cippus. The book of music, opened. The Hermit, first appearing on the _Acta Synodi Nationalis_, 1620 (Isaac Elzevir), motto--"Non solus".
Of the three marks mentioned above the first and last were more usually employed.
_Isaac Elzevir._ 1617-1625. Marks.--Two hands holding a cornucopia (rare). The Eagle on the cippus. The Hermit.
_Bonaventure and Abraham Elzevir._ 1622-1652 (514 books). Marks.--The Hermit (most frequent). The Eagle on a cippus. The Sphere, first appearing on the _Sphæra Johannis de Sacro-Bosco_, 1626. The Arms of the University. A palm tree with the device "Assvrgo pressa".[10] Minerva, with her attributes (the olive tree and the owl) and the motto "Ne extra oleas".
_Jean and Daniel Elzevir_. 1652-1655 (55 books). Marks.--The Sphere (frequent). The Hermit (frequent). The Arms of the University.
_Jean Elzevir._ 1655-1661 (113 books). Marks.--The Hermit. The Sphere.
_The Widow and Heirs of Jean Elzevir._ 1661-1681 (48 books). Marks.--The Hermit. Two Angels holding an open book; motto--"Immortalité".
Of the books printed by this firm, some bear the imprint: "A Leide, chez Pierre Didier," and also "Ex Officina Danielis et Abrahami à Gaasbeeck".
_Abraham Elzevir._ 1681-1712 (24 books). Marks.--The Hermit (most frequent). The Arms of the University; motto--"Hæc libertatis ergo".