The Lovedale Press was established as a small printing press in 1823 under Rev. John
Ross of the Glasgow Missionary Society. He brought the printing press from Britain to Cape
Town. It was transported to the mission station in Gwali about eight miles up the Tyume
Valley from the present site of Lovedale. Along with Rev. Ross, Rev. John Browlee, Rev.
W.R. Thomson and Rev John Bennie settled at the station. The Press was destroyed and
rebuilt twice during two wars, the Frontier War of 1834-5 and the War of the Axe (1846-7).
The Lovedale Press in its present form dates from 1861.

The historical significance of Lovedale Press cannot be overstated. It was introduced
as a means of advancing missionary activities and as a step towards educating South
African blacks. It provided a vehicle for South African black authors to publish their
work and was a pioneer in printing African literature. Also, it allowed blacks to receive
training as apprentices in printing and book binding.

Lovedale Press concentrated on publishing evangelical and educational material. One of
the earliest projects was the translation of the Xhosa Bible. Some of the press earliest
works include producing hymn books, school reading books and other Christian literature.

In 1927 Robert Henry Wishart Shepherd was appointed as Director of Publications. The
publication work at Lovedale consisted of three separate units, the printing and
bookbinding department, the retail bookroom, and the monthly magazine, The South
African Outlook. Within two years, these and an additional wholesale department
were all united under the name of Lovedale Press, under the control of Lovedale Governing
Council.

Lovedale Press was a business enterprise. Most of the profits came from printing. For
instance, Bantu Studies was printed for the University of Witwatersrand. The Press
made profits printing African literature for missions in the Rhodesians and Nysasaland.
School textbook proved profitable, especially primary school books. In the 1930's, the
Press began printing Stewart Xhosa readers.