Nasim Book Depot, Lucknow, was founded in 1928 by the noted novelist, editor, and publisher Nasim Anhonvi on Latouche Road, Lucknow. It emerged as one of the leading private Urdu publishing houses of its time, playing a significant role in promoting Urdu language and literature, particularly novels, short stories, translations, and popular reading. Owing to its high publishing standards, diverse catalogue, and encouragement of new writers, Nasim Book Depot soon established a distinguished position in the world of Urdu publishing.

The publishing house produced more than one thousand books covering literature, literary criticism, history, children's literature, women's writing, translations, and many other subjects. It played a pioneering role in introducing the classics of world literature to Urdu readers by publishing translations of works by Hermann Hesse, W. Somerset Maugham, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexandre Dumas, Mario Puzo, Sidney Sheldon, Agatha Christie, and many other internationally renowned authors. It also provided publishing opportunities to emerging writers such as Mazhar-ul-Haq Alvi, Muzaffar Hanafi, Atiya Parveen, Iffat Mohani, Masroor Jahan, Yaqoob Yawar, and many others, while making a significant contribution to promoting women writers in Urdu.

Alongside publishing, Nasim Anhonvi rendered valuable services as an editor. Under his editorship, the literary magazines Hareem, Sarpanch, and the popular children's magazine Kaliyan earned a distinguished place in the history of Urdu journalism and literary periodicals.

In 1995, a devastating fire destroyed the Depot's invaluable collection, rare manuscripts, and decades of magazine archives, bringing the activities of this historic institution to an end. Nevertheless, its publications and literary contributions continue to occupy a prominent place in the history of Urdu publishing. A selected collection of its rare publications is now available through the Rekhta Digital Library, allowing readers and researchers around the world to access this valuable literary heritage online.