Established in 1846, the Society has to date published over 200 editions in some 350 volumes . All editions are published in English. Although a substantial number of the Society's past editions relate to British ventures, with documentary sources in English, the majority concern non-British enterprises and are based on texts in languages other than English. Material originally written in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French or Dutch has regularly appeared, material in Russian, Greek, Latin, Ethiopic, Chinese, Persian or Arabic occasionally. The English translation in which this material is presented is normally a fresh version, but in certain instances an earlier rendering which has been appropriately checked and if necessary corrected.
All editions contain scholarly annotation.
This, together with an introduction, is designed with two aims in mind. The first is to give both the general reader and the student a degree of assistance in the elucidation of the material presented. The second is to provide guidance on the relevance of the episodes described, within the context of global development and world history. Volumes are normally furnished with maps and contemporary illustrations, often generously. Special editions appear in the Extra Series whose volumes are available to members at a discount.