It was created in 1925,[1] by the union of Editorial Calpe, founded by Nicolás María de Urgoiti in 1918,[2] and Editorial Espasa, founded by José and Pau Espasa i Anguera in 1860.
[3] The publisher, named Espasa-Calpe, was owned by Papelera Española.
[1] Espasa-Calpe opened Casa del Libro in Gran Vía, Madrid,[7] which continued with the direction of Enciclopedia Espasa.
[8] In addition, it established a headquarters in Buenos Aires, where it was extended into Chile, Uruguay, Peru, Mexico and Cuba.
[8] In 1991, Espasa-Calpe was acquired by Grupo Planeta, which paid 15.000 million Spanish pesetas.