United Publishers (1945-1947) had been publishing magazines and cartoon anthologies when it became incorporated and changed its name to Universal Publishing and Distributing (UPD) in 1947. UPD published magazines in its early years and by 1950s started to print "oversized paperback books called Uni Giants"; in 1954 it started publishing Beacon Books and Beacon-Envoy Books (erotica fiction). Beacon-Envoy became Beacon-Signal by 1967. Galaxy Science Fiction Novels came under the Beacon Books imprint. In 1969 UPD acquired the science fiction magazines Galaxy and If. In 1963 Award Books (often how-to books) and Nova Books (reprints for young adults) paperback lines were introduced. By 1977 UPD was in financial trouble and only Award Books remained; it finally closed its doors in 1978.
In the UK, If and Galaxy were published by Universal- Tandem Publishing Co. Ltd.