Lenizdat was chiefly a publishing entity for books, political literature, magazines, posters, brochures, postcards and newspapers. While it did operate a printing section later in its history, the publisher's origins were conceived in 1917 when it was formed as the publishing entity for the Petrograd Soviet and, its offices were located in the Smolny Institute of Petrograd (St. Petersburg). In 1924, the publisher was accorded the abbreviated name Lengiz (Leningrad State Publishing House) when the Petrograd was named Leningrad, in honor of the deceased Vladimir Lenin. After 1925, Lengiz served as a quasi-independent publisher subordinate to Gosizdat (State Publishing House). By the mid-1920s, its offices were located on the Avenue of the 25th of October (today, Nevsky Prospect).

Lenizdat published books, political literature, magazines, posters, brochures, postcards and newspapers. Its origins began in 1917 as the publishing entity for the Petrograd Soviet whereby its offices were located in the Smolny Institute of Petrograd (St. Petersburg). Around 1919, the publishing entity was named Petrogosizdat (Petrograd State Publishing) and in 1924 its name was abbreviated to Lengiz (Leningrad State Publishing House) when the city took the name Leningrad in honor of the deceased Vladimir Lenin. After 1925, Lengiz served as a quasi-independent publisher but was subordinate to Gosizdat (State Publishing House). By the mid-1920s, its offices were located on the Avenue of the 25th of October (today, Nevsky Prospect).