Founded in 1764, in 1876 the school received the official title "Königliche Kunstakademie und Kunstgewerbeschule" (Royal Academy of Art and Applied Art). In 1900 the School was officially renamed "Königliche Akademie für graphische Künste und Buchgewerbe" (Royal Academy for Graphic Arts and Book Technique). In 1909 the "Verein Deutscher Buchgewerbekünstler" (Association of German Book Designers) was founded at the Academy, which was also the association's headquarters. The association was an important source of inspiration for the Bugra.

In 1914, the 150th anniversary of the Academy was celebrated with an extensive program of festivities and a major exhibition. The Academy had established itself nationally and internationally as a learning institution for the book trade and co-operated actively with local printers, cultural institutions and associations. In the jubilee year the BUGRA was held for the first time in Leipzig, an international exposition of book design modeled on the World Exhibition.

Today the Academy is known as the Hochschule für Grafik und Buchkunst, or College of Graphic and Book Arts.

Note that the first two stamps at left have a gryphon in their design, implying that the mythical beast may have been a symbol of the school. This would account for Walter Tiemann's use of a gryphon in the image for the exhibition poster.