Publisher · founded 1585 · Oxford
Clarendon Press
Clarendon Press is the traditional name and scholarly imprint of Oxford University Press, named after the Clarendon Building in Oxford, where the press moved in 1713.
- Editions tracked
- 65
- First editions
- 37
- Books
- 64
- Years
- 1800 to 2006
Clarendon Press is a publisher based in Oxford, founded in 1585. We track 65 editions it published between 1800 and 2006, 37 of them first editions across 64 books. How Clarendon Press marked its first editions is set out below, with a checker for the year on your title page.
About Clarendon Press
Clarendon Press is the historic name and current scholarly imprint of Oxford University Press (OUP), the publishing department of the University of Oxford.
Printing in Oxford dates from 1478, and the University won a formal right to print by decree in 1586. In 1713 the press moved its printing from the Sheldonian Theatre into the newly built Clarendon Building on Broad Street, and the operation became known by that building's name. The label stayed in use after the move to purpose-built premises on Walton Street in 1830.
In the early twentieth century OUP divided its output by place: books issued from the London office carried "Oxford University Press" while those from Oxford carried "Clarendon Press". The distinction lapsed in the 1970s when the London office closed. OUP now keeps the Clarendon Press imprint for works it regards as of particular academic weight.
Landmark books from OUP include Paul Dirac's The Principles of Quantum Mechanics (1930) and H. L. A. Hart's The Concept of Law (1961). The wider press is also known for the Oxford English Dictionary, a project approved in 1879 whose first edition was completed in 1928. Clarendon Press remains part of OUP.
Holding a copy? The first edition checker shows Clarendon Press's practice for the year on your title page.
Identification
How to identify Clarendon Press first editions
Books
Published by Clarendon Press
Frequently asked questions
How do I identify a Clarendon Press first edition?
How many Clarendon Press books does MyVolumes track?
We track 65 editions published by Clarendon Press, 37 of them first editions, across 64 books.
Where these facts come from
- Clarendon Press, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Oxford University Press, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Concept of Law, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Principles of Quantum Mechanics, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- First Edition Identification by Publisher, ILAB, 2010 (ilab.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.