The idea to create a book publishing house directly connected to a related Außenhandelsunternehmen [de] (Foreign trade institution) was first formulated in 1956.
The first book, which was published by Edition Leipzig, was the "Taschenbuch der Mathematik" (Handbook of mathematics) by Ilya Nikolaevich Bronshtein and Konstantin Adolfovic Semendyayev by B. G. Teubner Verlag.
One of the first titles developed by Edition Leipzig itself was the book "Schlag nach: Fakten über die Deutsche Demokratische Republik" (Look it up: Facts about the German Democratic Republic), which in 1961 was launched in 17 languages simultaneously.
Since the production was not bound by the normal conditions of capitalism and also was intended to represent the GDR in the Western world, some high-quality books came onto the market that are still valuable today.
Earlier re-editions were from the third/fourth century "Proverbial codex", an "ancient Egyptian otherworld guide to Amun-em-uja" from the papyrus collection of the Berlin State Museums, the Hebrew manuscript "Machsor Lipsiae [de]" from the Leipzig University Library, the "Astronomicum Caesareum" by Peter Apian and "Afrika aus Karten des 12. bis 18.
The "Atlas des Großen Kurfürsten" from the Berlin State Library published in a magnificent edition in 1971 was the most expensive undertaking until that date at 4140 marks.
After 1980, works such as the "Lothringische Apokalypse" (Lorraine apocalypse), a bible print or the "Fest-Epistolar Friedrichs des Weisen", which, even at a price of 5950 marks, could not cover the production costs.
The series "Bibliothek alter kulinarischer Werke" (Library of old culinary works) was less ambitious, however, it is still a valuable source for fans of old cookbooks.
Works such as "Geschichte der Naturwissenschaften" (History of natural sciences) were published in a series called "Wissenschaftliche Sammlung" (Scientific collection).
Works such as "Der Künstler und seine Werkstatt" (The artist and his workshop) or "Tierbilder" (Animal pictures) fell under the series heading "Kunstbücher für Kinder" (Art books for children).
Books such as "Historische Zielscheiben" (Historical targets) or "Seefahrer-Souvenirs" (Seafarers' souvenirs) were published in a series named "Kulturgeschichtliche Miniaturen" (Cultural-historical miniatures).
The actually formulated "didactic purpose" of books with such a selection of topics from different scientific areas was to help improve insight on connections and relations and thus to train the power of judgment.
For example, themes such as Meissen porcelain, glass painting or Saxony's palaces, castles and gardens are dealt with in an entire book series.