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Imprimerie Nationale - Key Dates
GroupKey Dates
Key Dates
  • 1538 François 1er appoints a printer as «The King’s Printer for Greek ».



  • 1540 The King’s Printer for Greek becomes « The King’s Printer for Greek, Latin and Hebrew ».



  • 1640 Following Prime Minister Richelieu’s advice, King Louis XIII, turns this printing office into a Royal Printing Factory. It is located in the Louvre.


  • 1792 The Royal Printing Office becomes the Louvre’s Printing Office.


  • 1795 Both official printing offices merge into one: The Republics Printing Office. It is located in the "l'Hôtel de Penthièvre.


  • 1804 The Printing Office becomes «Imperial». It is relocated to the Hôtel de Rohan.


  • 1871 The Printing Office is given its current name: the Imprimerie Nationale.


  • 1910 The Ministry of Finance replaces the Ministry of Justice as Supervisory ministry.


  • 1921 The Imprimerie Nationale moves to rue de la Convention (Paris, 15ème).


  • 1974 Opening of a second site, in Douai.


  • 1993 The Imprimerie Nationale becomes Imprimerie Nationale S.A., a private company with state capital – under the French law of 31/12/93


  • 2000 The first smart cards are produced at the plastic card workshop.


  • 2002 The Imprimerie Nationale becomes the State’s reliable operator for the distribution of tachograph cards (Public Service Delegation Agreement).


  • 2005 The Imprimerie Nationale relocates its headquarters to bd Gouvion Saint-Cyr (Paris 17ème). The Imprimerie Nationale reorganizes its activities, focusing on secured documents, mainly governments. All fiduciary workshops are relocated to Douai. The site is modernized and secured.


  • 2006 The first personalized electronic passport is made in Douai.


  • 2007 Douai becomes a PS1 site.


  • 2008 The Imprimerie Nationale produces the new biometric passport and personalizes the new police card.


  • 2009 Personalization of SIV (Car Registration document). The first secure hunting licences are produced by the Imprimerie Nationale.


  • 2010 Douai is listed as an OIV (Operator of Vital Importance).

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