How a 15th-century printing decree shaped the world's largest university press
From printing the King James Bible to the massive Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford University Press has navigated centuries of royal grants, commercial near-misses, and international boycotts. Discover how this academic institution transformed from a small-scale scholarly printer into a global publishing powerhouse.
The origins of Oxford University Press (OUP) date back to 1478, with the university eventually receiving a legal right to print books by decree in 1586. The press's early trajectory was shaped by powerful figures like Archbishop William Laud, who in the 1630s secured royal grants and the 'Great Charter' of 1636. This allowed the university to compete with the King's Printer and secured the lucrative 'privilege' to print the King James Version of Scripture, a monopoly that generated substantial returns for 250 years.
The 19th century brought significant structural shifts. While figures like Thomas Combe managed the business through the mid-1800s, the press faced modernization under Secretary Bartholomew Price. Price helped transition OUP into a modern publisher, overseeing the launch of the Clarendon Press series of school books and the monumental project of the Oxford English Dictionary. Although the dictionary was initially estimated to cost £9,000 and take ten years, the final first edition, completed in 1928, cost approximately £375,000.
OUP's expansion was also marked by global reach and controversy. By 1928, the press had a presence in cities ranging from London and Bombay to Shanghai and Cape Town. However, its internationalism has not been without friction. In 1989, the press faced intense criticism from the New York Times and The Sunday Times for breaking a worldwide boycott of Iranian books following the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, arguing that staying away was not in the interests of either party.
Today, OUP remains a department of the University of Oxford, governed by 15 academics known as the Delegates of the Press. While it has moved away from its historical role as a printer—closing its Oxuniprint division in 202 and its High Street bookshop in 2020—it continues to lead in academic publishing, including pioneering 'open access' models for scientific and humanities journals.
Source: Oxford University Press
