Didot

Didot, the name of a great printing, bookselling, and type-founding house of Paris. The founder of the house was Francois (1689-1757). Francois-Ambroise (1720-1804) invented new processes and machinery in type-founding. Pierre-Francois (1732-1795) was a noted bibliographer. Pierre (1761-1853) succeeded his father in the management of the business, and brought out a magnificent folio edition of the classics. Of these the best known are Virgil (1798) and Baeim (1801). He also made many improvements in mechanical processes, and was an author. Firmin (1764-1836) was the brother of Pierre, and took charge of the type-founding department. Among other inventions he introduced a new script and improvements in stereotyping. Ambroise-Firmin (1790-1876) and Hyacinthe-Firmin (1794-1880) were also members of the house, which is one of the most universal and most widely known institutions of Paris.