The first Government printing press was established in 1838, by the then Travancore Maharaja Swathi Thirunal at Thiruvananthapuram and named it the Government Press. Initially it was meant only to print the Punchangas, and later all the printing works of the State came under it. Gradually this small printing press developed into the present Government Central Printing Press. Ernakulam Government Press was established in 1847 and Pujappura Central Jail Press in 1901. When the Kerala State was formed in 1957, there were three printing presses under the Department of Printing. In 1960 a Government Press was established in Shornur, especially for printing of text books.
The Stamp Manufactory, which was established exclusively for the minting of coins and printing of stamp papers of Travancore State, was handed over to the Printing Department in 1964 from the Revenue Department. The Kannur Government Press was established in 1967, Kozhikode Government Press in 1983, Mannanthala Government Press in 1984, Wayanad Government Press in1985, Vazhoor Government Press in 1994 and the Kollam Government Press in 2001. Now there are eleven printing presses functioning under the department. District Form Stores are working at 12 district head quarters for smooth supply and sale of forms and other Government publications.